Tag Archives: tiger woods

Golf’s New No. 1: Congratulations to England’s Lee Westwood

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After five long years Tiger Woods has finally been deposed as the undisputed number one in world golf – by a man from Worksop, England. Step forward Lee Westwood, the world’s new best golfer.

Lee Westwood

There will be quite a few who claim his failure to win a Major tarnishes his new status and there is an argument for that. There will be a few who claim that Tiger Woods is clearly a more natural golfer and there is an argument for that.

But golf is all about consistency and there is no argument against the fact that over the last 12 months or more Lee Westwood has been golf’s Mr Consistent. Several top three finishes in the last two years at Majors also suggest he isn’t that far off claiming his first. Being installed as number one in the world may even give him the boost in confidence and belief he needs to take that final step where perhaps self doubt has caused him to fail when within touching distance in the past. We’ll see on that one.

For now, let’s just celebrate in the fact that golf now has a new number one and England has our first since Nick Faldo way back in 1994.

It may only be a brief reign, as Westwood himself admitted, saying he’s learned never to write off Tiger Woods and there are several others hot on Westwood’s heels that could snatch it away from him, a lot from the European Tour and some from the US Tour, but then again it may not. It doesn’t really matter – Westwood has been as high as world number four and as low as outside the top 250 so this number one spot is a remarkable achievement.

He’s a very nice guy as well and it’s a well deserved achievement.

Tiger Finds Form At The Ryder Cup – Unnoticed

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Tiger WoodsAmid the drama, tension and excitement of the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor on Monday, the remarkable performance of one American went virtually unnoticed.

This is perhaps understandable as Europe regained the Ryder Cup by just a single point, in the last singles match on the penultimate hole. As finishes to the Ryder Cup go, this was as dramatic as it gets.

No-one would have predicted that the unprecedented fourth day would produce such a finish. At the start of the day Europe led 9 ½ to 6 ½ with only five points required for victory. Early on it looked like they would walk it – right until the USA team produced a stunning fight back to ensure that Europe had to fight very hard for every one of the five points.

In amongst that fight back, however, was a performance that the rest of the golfing world, not just those competing in the Ryder Cup, would do well to take notice of.

Out of form, out of character and almost out on his ear, Tiger Woods justified his inclusion in the USA team by Corey Pavin with a round of golf that may well signal he is getting close to his best once more.

It was certainly his best Ryder Cup performance and if he takes this form into tournament play then his long list of wins will no doubt get longer.

Playing the Italian Francesco Molinari, Woods found himself two down after the first three holes as Molinari started at a blistering pace, scoring birdies on the first and second and par-ing the third.

Woods’ dismal (ok, that may be a harsh assessment, but it’s not been good!) Ryder Cup form looked like it would continue until he pulled one back on the fourth, only to lose it again on the fifth.

His confidence was given a boost with a birdie on the sixth to pull him back to just one down but as both players made par on the next two holes it looked like Molinari had things under control.

Unfortunately for Molinari, the old Tiger Woods decided to make a return for the first time since his well publicised off-course troubles began.

Woods rounded off the front nine with a birdie four on the par five ninth before blitzing the opening four holes of the back nine with three birdies and an eagle on the 12th.

Going to the 14th with a four shot advantage, Woods had firmly closed the door on a defeat barring a miracle five holes from Molinari. It wasn’t to be – nobody seriously thought it would be – and two pars from Woods could only be matched by the Italian, giving the Americans another point in their remarkable comeback.

Consider this though; in 10 holes Woods managed six birdies and an eagle. He was eight under after 15 holes with three to play. Theoretically, he could have finished his round a stunning 11 under. He notched five holes in a row under par.

By anyone’s standards that is a phenomenal round, but especially for Tiger Woods given his recent form. Only Dustin Johnson’s 6&4 humiliation of Martin Kaymer came close on the day.

So is Tiger back to his best? Has his somewhat surprising inclusion in the US Ryder Cup rekindled is love of the game, even in defeat? Should the rest of golf be filled with fear at the name ‘Woods’ on the scoreboard?

Only time will tell, but this was an ominous sign that Tiger is starting to put his troubles behind him and focus once again on his golf game.

Incidentally, I want to congratulate Colin Montgomerie, his vice captains and all the European Ryder Cup team on their victory. Closer than it perhaps should have been, but all credit to the Americans for that. Well done on bringing it home, boys – especially you, @Graeme_McDowell!

Woods to lose world number one spot to Westwood (possibly)

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Lee WestwoodTiger Woods has reined supreme over the golfing world for five years, holding the number one spot since 2005, but his position is now under threat from the supremely consistent Lee Westwood and Phil Mickelson.

The WGC-Bridgestone Invitational tees off today, Woods defending the title he has won seven times in Ohio. Should he fail to do so, he could lose his number one position to either Mickelson or Westwood.

Here’s how. If Westwood wins and Woods is outside the top two, he will become world number one. If he finishes second, Woods fails to finish better than tenth and Mickelson DOESN’T win the tournament, he will become world number one. If Mickelson wins the tournament, he will become world number one. If Mickelson finishes in the top four and Woods fails to finish in the top 37 (yes, THIRTY SEVEN), he will become world number one.

It’s a bit complicated, but basically the odds on favourite to be the best golfer in the world come Sunday is Lee Westwood – despite never winning a major.

There’s a few stumbling blocks. First of all, while Westwood is in fantastic form, Woods LOVES this course. If he is to regain some of the form he has lost since his fall from grace, it could well be here at Firestone. Then consider this – Westwood will tee off next to Woods for the first two rounds. That’s pressure, playing alongside the man you are trying to depose!

It’ll be compulsive viewing, and you’ll want to keep an eye on Mickelson too, of course. For me, I really hope Westwood does it, his game deserves it and it might just give him that boost to win that first elusive major.

Louis Oosthuizen runs away with The Open

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Louis OosthuizenI did consider doing a daily round up of all the action from the Open at St Andrews, but Louis Oosthuizen changed all that with his runaway victory. I wanted to wait and see whether his game would hold up under the pressure or if he’d crumble as the likes of Paul Casey and Lee Westwood attempted to chase him down.

In the end, of course, his game not only held up but shone. Not at any point did he look like he would lose his cool or his control and his mastery of the links course in tough, windy and wet conditions was a pleasure to watch.

This was golf at its best. There were other brilliant rounds over the four days, not least from Casey, Westwood and the young Rory McIlroy who, despite a torrid second day, recovered superbly to finish tied third on 8 under after a 68 on the final day.

If it hadn’t been for that 8 over 80 on the second day, we could have had a much tighter finish. Casey will feel disappointed with his 75 on the last day as again, he could have challenged Oosthuizen with a better day.

One proud man, the South African winner aside, will be Lee Westwood. He remains the nearly man at majors, but his last round of 70 gave him second place on his own – and did beat Oosthuizen’s calmly taken 71.

For a while it looked like The Open record win of 8 shots clear was under threat. Woods – whose poor putting kept him out of contention here – was the last man to win by that margin, and Westwood ensured he retains that record by pulling back Oosthuizen to a 7 shot victory.

Will Louis gone on to be a great golfer in the same mould as compatriot Ernie Els? On this evidence, he has the game and temperament so why not? He needs to push on from here now, get consistency and challenge for more major honours.

Justin Rose, who I was following closely, sadly failed to perform. He missed the cut on Day Two but I remain hopeful that the 29 year old will one day capture a major. However, if anything, I want Westwood to do it first. He’s so close to it it must be weighing on his mind and his golf does deserve it.

The next golf I’m looking forward to now is the Ryder Cup. Should be brilliant. The USA remain strong but there has clearly been a resurgence in European golf over the last couple of years – a quick look at the final leaderboard here at the Open shows that. The five behind Oosthuizen were all Europeans. Bodes well, I hope!

PREVIEW: The Open, St Andrews

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St AndrewsThe 150th Anniversary Open Championship gets underway on Thursday at the home of golf, St. Andrews, and reigning champion Stewart Cink will be looking to retain his title in the face of stiff opposition.

Cink won last year at Turnberry, beating crowd favourite Tom Watson in a four-hole play off. Watson would have won his sixth Open and, at 59, been the oldest champion, but he missed out by six shots to Cink.

Every big name in golf you can think of will be vying for the Claret Jug on one of the toughest links courses in the world. Woods, Harrington, Mickelson, Els, Montgomerie, Lyle…I could go on and on. There are 156 professional and amateur golfers in total, all looking to topple Cink and each other over four days of what promises to be fabulous golf.

The Old Course at St Andrews has hosted golf matches for 600 years and is home to the longest running tournament for the 28th time this year.

Par is 72 over the 7305 yards that make up the 18 holes. There are only two par 3s and two par 5s, one of each on the front and back nines. The longest hole is the par 5 14th, stretching 618 yards but with a strong wind from the east, it’s doable in three. The shortest is the par 3 11th at 174 yards. The green is steep so you have to get your distance right or risk rolling off the green at the front or dropping into a gully at the back.

The Open Championship will start at 6.30am tomorrow with Paul Lawrie, Thomas Levet and Steve Marino teeing off on the first hole, Burn, as it is known.

All eyes will be on Tiger Woods no doubt as he attempts to win his third successive Open at St Andrews, but with his off-course personal troubles and a putting game that his own caddie has described as “sub-standard” he’ll have his work cut out. Tiger tees off at 9.09am alongside in-form Justin Rose and Camilo Villegas.

Other notable tee off times for us Brits and Irish include:

  • 7.36am: Sir Nick Faldo
  • 8.42am: Ian Poulter, Ernie Els, Stewart Cink
  • 9.20am: Padraig Harrington
  • 9.53am: Darren Clarke
  • 12.25pm: Sandy Lyle
  • 12.47pm: Luke Donald
  • 13.31pm: Paul Casey
  • 13.42pm: Lee Westwood
  • 14.20pm: Colin Montgomerie, Phil Mickelson, Retief Goosen

I’ll be keeping a close eye on Justin Rose. He has recently won two tournaments on the PGA Tour and is bang in form. How he’ll handle the links is a big question, as is how he’ll feel playing alongside Woods for the first two days. I really hope he does himself justice.

Who do you want to win and perhaps more to the point who do you THINK will win? Let me know in the comments.

Englishmen looking good at Players Championship

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Luke Donald and Lee Westwood are handily placed just one shot off the lead after the first round of The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass. However, a confident feeling Tiger woods is only three shots further back.

Lee Westwood

Westwood: In with a shout at Sawgrass

Both Englishmen dropped just one shot but enjoyed six birdies in the opening round, while Woods had a shakier, but far more competitive round than that seen at Quail Hollow last week.

American J. B. Holmes and Australian Robert Allenby lead the way on six under but perceived wisdom suggests the course will favour Allenby – and other more strategic players – over the big hitters such as Holmes. That’s why Donald and Westwood will fancy their chances over the next three days.

Woods, too, is clearly feeling better about his game but some of his shots were wayward – not least at the 7th where he skied his shot, making just 190 yards. Another surprisingly low scorer on Thursday was Phil Mickelson. He matched Woods’ 70 for the round and said: “Shooting 70 today isn’t the round you want.”

Indeed not. That it’s an upturn for Woods shows how far he had fallen and how far he has to go to get back to anything close to where he was before his troubles.

We expect J. B. Holmes to fall away over the next 54 holes while Donald and Westwood remain consistent. Woods will consolidate his improvement but not challenge and Mickelson has work to do, but think he’ll finish higher than Woods. So do we predict an English winner at The Players Championship? No, not yet. Allenby has the game to win this and Donald has been disappointing for quite a while. Westwood, however, is in with a great shout.

The weather and subsequent conditions will play their part too. Thursday was ideal, but Saturday looks like being windier and may see some rain. Who will stand up to the changing conditions best is yet to be seen.

Who do you think will win The Players Championship? Will it be a shoot out between Westwood and Allenby or will we have a surprise winner in Donald – or someone else entirely? Give us your thoughts and predictions in the comments.

Woods Accident Mystery

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Tiger Woods with wife you pulled him to safety

Tiger Woods with wife who pulled him to safety

First reported as serious, now downgraded to minor, nevertheless there is some mystery surrounding Tiger Woods’ car crash in the early hours of yesterday morning.

First of all, how does a man who drinks very little, if at all, crash into a fire hydrant then a tree outside his own home? Surely he knows where they are?

Secondly, how does this statement from the Central Health Hospital and Woods’ own people:

“Tiger Woods was in a minor car accident outside his home.

“He was admitted, treated and released in good condition.”

…tally with this report from local Windermere police chief Daniel Saylor:

“Woods had lacerations to his upper and lower lips and blood in his mouth. He was mumbling, but didn’t say anything coherent.”

You also have to question why Woods’ wife had to use a golf club to smash the rear window of the car to drag him out and why it was 12 hours before news of the incident made the public domain. This last, at least, could be down purely to Woods’ desire for privacy.

We’re not one for idle speculation and conspiracy theories but there are questions here that should at least be asked, even if they are never answered by Tiger Woods. Sporting Fare does respect his right to privacy – but we can wonder, right? Drugs? Unlikely. Alcohol? Apparently not. Health issue such as epilepsy or similar? Possible. We can’t imagine there wasn’t something involved.

Got a theory of your own? Know more than we do? Let us know in the comments, we’re intrigued.