WHAT WITH baboons, spidermonkeys and other exotic species, it only needed a herd of wildebeeste pursuing the players down the fairway to make the Nedbank Challenge rival Planet Earth for interest. David Attenborough should have been at Sun City. Luckily the mongooses were familiar with the Rules of Golf and didn’t touch the ball.
AFTER WINNING the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai with a 17 under par 67, Matt Fitzpatrick (22) became the youngest Englishman to claim three European Tour titles, a record previously held by Nick Faldo.
Matt, who lives with his parents, has now traded his Ford Mondeo in for a BMW X4, although he returned the brand new X5 the dealers sent him after his win.
“Apparently BMW X5’s get stolen a lot, and Mum and Dad weren’t keen on having one in front of the house,” he explained. Matt did win over a million, perhaps they should splash out on a garage.
Henrik Stenson was also celebrating after his Race to Dubai win, which also confirmed his status as the European Tour’s Order of Merit winner. That carries a £986,000 bonus. Should be worth a Skoda.
JOHN DALY obviously angling for an invitation to the White House: “Donald hits it good, he’s a decent player. Bill Clinton’s Mr. Mulligan. If he doesn’t like the shot, he just throws another one down, hits it and says: ‘I’m just practicing.’ There’s a range for that. Donald will actually finish a hole and write his score down. Bill won’t even finish a hole, you can’t hit seven shots and say it was a par!”
Actually, this is not what most people who have played with Trump say about his game. He may write the scores down, but, as Eric Morecambe would say, not necessarily in the right order.
Donald Trump’s golf empire began in 1990 when he won a parcel of land in Florida and turned it into Trump West Palm Beach. Since then he has acquired a portfolio of 17 clubs, including Trump Aberdeen and Turnberry. Donald says his children will take over the golf empire now. Perhaps he means 10 yr. old Barron, he’s said to be keen on golf.
It’s a wonder Trump didn’t put in a bid for the site of the 2017 Scottish Open when it came up for sale. It’s Dundonald.
20 TEAMS WILL take part in the PNC Father/Son Challenge at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club at Grande Lakes, Orlando, from December 8–11th. Lanny and Tucker Wadkins will be defending their title. Nick and Matthew Faldo, Lee and Daniel Trevino and Bernhard and Christina Langer will also be teeing up, and John Daly and his son John Daly Jnr (aged 13) will be taking part for the first time. Oh please, not two pairs of psychedelic trousers!
A TODAY’S GOLFER tip for good chipping: get most of your weight on the front foot at address and keep it there throughout the swing. If you’re shifting your weight from front to back you won’t make solid contact. Keep your foot down!
NEXT YEAR’S Zurich Classic of New Orleans (April 24-30th) will be the PGA Tour’s first team event in nearly 40 years, featuring two rounds each of Foursomes and Four-Ball.
The event will feature 80 teams of two, each winning player receiving FedEx Cup points and a two year exemption. The top 80 qualifiers will be allowed to choose their own teammate. Jason Day/Rickie Fowler, and Justin Rose/Henrik Stenson have already signed up.
AT THE TURKISH AIRLINES OPEN, Lee Westwood, “Beef” Johnston and Danny Willett took to the roof at the Golf and Spa Resort in Antalya to try out Drone Golf. The idea consisted of flying a drone carrying a golf ball from the tee through obstacles to the green, and then dropping the ball as close as possible to the hole. Kept them amused for hours. They just never grow up.
Until next time, Happy Golfing.
I would also like to express my thanks to all the golf societies who once again contributed so generously to The Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal, raising over €10.000 in the process!
Contact Mick for your regripping and repairs. 638 859 475.
