Sportblog + Golf

Tuesday 17 August 2010
Dustin Johnson has only himself to blame for PGA Championship gaffe

Dustin Johnson looks dejected after learning that he will not make the PGA Championship play-off. Photograph: Charlie Neibergall/AP

The rules of golf are dumber than carrots, as the American writer Dan Jenkins once wrote but in the great IQ race of golfing life they are in a photo-finish with highly-paid professionals who don't know their business. Put the two together and you have the perfect storm of farce, as was the case on Sunday at the PGA Championship.
With Martin Kaymer and Bubba Watson preparing for a play-off Dustin Johnson was still out on the course preparing for a strange kind of martyrdom. Continue reading...

Posted by Lawrence Donegan 07.02 BST
Monday 16 August 2010
Colin Montgomerie left red faced by Ryder Cup stars' dash for cash

Justin Rose should book a flight from the US to the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles to show his commitment to the Ryder Cup cause. Photograph: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images

Lawrence Donegan: Declarations of loyalty to the Ryder Cup cause look hollow as leading players duck out of last-ditch qualifying Continue reading...

Posted by Lawrence Donegan at Whistling Straits 16.38 BST
Sunday 15 August 2010
Corey Pavin and Colin Montgomerie enliven the Ryder Cup carry-on

The American and European Ryder Cup captains, Corey Pavin and Colin Montgomerie, answer questions before the US PGA Championship. Photograph: Jae C Hong/AP

Paul Hayward: 'You're going down' may replace 'get in the hole' as a Ryder Cup rallying cry at Celtic Manor Continue reading...

Posted by Paul Hayward 00.06 BST
Wednesday 21 July 2010
Rory McIlroy strikes a blow for sport's scruffbags

Rory McIlroy, dishevelled as ever. Photograph: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

Rob Bagchi: Dishevelled sportsmen are fewer and further between these days, but the Holywood golfer is in a class of his own Continue reading...

Posted by Rob Bagchi 00.06 BST
Tuesday 20 July 2010
Louis Oosthuizen strikes blow for hackers on the range

A South African quoted at 200-1 before the tournament captures the Open title, but that does not mean Wolves will win the Premier League or that England will triumph at Euro 2012. Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Robert Kitson: The Open triumph of unheralded Louis Oosthuizen strengthened the view that romance still has a place in big-time sport Continue reading...

Posted by Robert Kitson 00.06 BST
Monday 19 July 2010
Louis Oosthuizen win highlights new democracy – and don't call it dull

South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen celebrates with the Claret Jug after winning the Open Championship. Photograph: Lee Smith/Action Images

Lawrence Donegan: Anyone can win at professional golf these days, except perhaps the TV executives who gorged for years on Tiger's hegemony Continue reading...

Posted by Lawrence Donegan at St Andrews 20.58 BST
Sunday 18 July 2010
The Open 2010: Grumblers cannot diminish Louis Oosthuizen's finest hour

Louis Oosthuizen celebrates his victory at the Open. Photograph: Glyn Kirk/AFP/Getty Images

Lawrence Donegan: Cynics who were quick to complain about this year's Open were ignoring Louis Oosthuizen's masterful performance
Continue reading...

Posted by Lawrence Donegan at St Andrews 23.48 BST
Tiger Woods' fans want lurid details about his putter, not porn stars

Tiger Woods was certainly not keeping a low profile in his 'crushed loganberry' shirt at the Open Championship. Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Martin Kelner: Peter Alliss may have unbuttoned his shirt at St Andrews but golf is not a game for the wrong kind of swinger Continue reading...

Posted by Martin Kelner 22.00 BST
The Open 2010: Louis Oosthuizen strides to fame with dominant display

South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen celebrates with the Claret Jug after winning the Open Championship. Photograph: Lee Smith/Action Images

Lawrence Donegan: The South African's win came as little surprise to his rivals, who have seen him establish himself as a formidable opponent Continue reading...

Posted by Lawrence Donegan at St Andrews 20.59 BST
Tiger Woods can only restate his case for greatness on the golf course

Tiger Woods tees off at the 4th hole at St Andrews. Photograph: Harry How/Getty Images

Kevin Mitchell: Tiger Woods, like Lance Armstrong and Roger Federer, has shown fallibility but his legacy should be only about golf Continue reading...

Posted by Kevin Mitchell 09.00 BST
Saturday 17 July 2010
The Open 2010: Louis Oosthuizen prospers in the wind

Tiger Woods tees off on the ninth hole during the third round of the Open Championship at St Andrews. Photograph: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images

Kevin Mitchell: The South African may be unheralded but the weather back home may give him the Open edge Continue reading...

Posted by Kevin Mitchell at St Andrews 23.08 BST
Friday 16 July 2010
The Open 2010: Louis Oosthuizen tames the wild wind to sail away

Louis Oosthuizen lets rip with his driver at St Andrews on his way to a five-shot second-round lead. Photograph: Lee Smith/Action Images

Lawrence Donegan: The little known South African Louis Oosthuizen shot to the top of the leaderboard but various contenders struggled with the weather Continue reading...

Posted by Lawrence Donegan at St Andrews 19.54 BST
Thursday 15 July 2010
The Open 2010: Rory McIlroy enjoys a day of fantasy at St Andrews

Rory McIlroy said there was another 54 more holes to go in The Open. Photograph: Phil Noble/REUTERS

Bill Elliott: Rory McIlroy's progress around the game's ancestral manor has been blessed Continue reading...

Posted by Bill Elliott at St Andrews 18.27 BST
Tuesday 13 July 2010
Back in the swing at the Open again thanks to cricket's silly season

Lee Westwood of England tees off on the 18th hole at St Andrews, which has seen many Open dramas. Photograph: Andrew Redington/Getty Images Sport

Mike Selvey: The Open was always a welcome break from the cricket circuit for any lover of golf Continue reading...

Posted by Mike Selvey 00.05 BST
Thursday 17 June 2010
US Open: The best course in the world? Pebble Beach doesn't come close

This year's US Open is held at the idyllic Pebble Beach but the course is not a favourite of everyone. Photograph: Hans Deryk/Reuters

Lawrence Donegan: Look beyond the crashing waves, golden sands and dolphins playing in the surf, and you'll find some daftly difficult holes Continue reading...

Posted by Lawrence Donegan 08.54 BST