The Irish Golf Club Gazette: Nick Faldo

Showing posts with label Nick Faldo. Show all posts

4/11/2016

Lawrie and McDaid Off to Sunny Spain

Peter Lawrie and Brendan McDaid - Getty Images

Peter Lawrie returns to Real Club Valderrama Open de España, Hosted by the Sergio García Foundation to play the 90th edition of one of the oldest national opens in Europe. Its origin linked to the appearance of those first Spanish professionals and a reflection on the development of golf in Spain during that time. Appropriately one of those prodigies, Sergio Garcia now Host of the event.

It was 2008 when Lawrie won Open de España – after a playoff with Ignacio Garrido - at Real Club Golf de Sevilla. A victory that formed an important part of the Dubliners success on the European Tour during the past decade. With Lawrie almost repeating the feat the following year at PGA Catalunya when he finished in a share of third place of the Open de España with Thomas Bjorn - both behind Fabrizio Zanotti and winner Thomas Levet

That win also consolidated a partnership with swing coach Brendan McDaid which saw the former UCD Sports Scholarship qualify for the 2012 US Open at The Olympic Club in San Francisco. Doing so through a crowded and competitive qualifier at Walton Health to earn the right. Although a frequent visitor to Andalucía Lawrie returns to Valderrama for the first time since the Andalucía Masters in 2011 where he finished in 15th place

For this year’s Open de España Lawrie will join forces with McDaid once again with the role of caddy added to the weekend’s chores for the experienced golf coach. Both men keen to rediscover some tournament form in the south of Spain, following a number of months working together off the course.

“Most of our work has been focussed on impact improvement” explained McDaid, “and getting Peter to compress the ball more at point of impact.”

“Being on the bag will allow me see the progress through the rounds and help keep building on the good work done through the winter,” concluded McDaid

In availing of his winner’s exemption the Open de España is very timely in what will be a challenging season for Lawrie given his reliance on invites and favours this season. All a result of having dropped out of the automatic places in the Race to Dubai two seasons ago. In 2015 Peter missed the cut 17 times, including the Open de España at El Prat in Barcelona. Although he finished 37th at the Challenge de Madrid some weeks later.

The previous year the former event winner missed the weekend play at NH Collection Open de España at La Reserva. However, in 2013 at El Saler in Valencia Lawrie finished 13th and on his return to the Real Golf Club de Sevilla he signed for a 16th place finish. A share of 15th place on his last outing at Valderrama might stir the memory bank for his trip this year.

Such history will prove a bonus for the Lawrie McDaid combination as they battle the 1997 Ryder Cup course, which has seen significant work done recently. Both on the bunkers and tees in order to bring them up to the same high standard as the fairways and greens.

Many of the cork trees lining the course have also been pruned, allowing more aggressive play from the rough, and a brand new high-tech pumping system has improved the playing conditions.

In terms of the Open de España the first event hosted in Andalucía was in 1966 at the neighbouring - and newly opened at the time RCG Sotogrande - where Argentina’s Roberto de Vicenzo stole the show. Four years later it was RCG Las Brisas in Marbella, another Robert Trent Jones layout, which saw a home winner, Angel Gallardo, the current Vice-Chairman of the European Tour.

That year Gallardo won by two shots over England’s Neil Coles and Christy O’Connor Sr. “I had always dreamt of winning my national Open; that was the most thrilling moment of my career” recalls Gallardo.

Nine years passed before the event returned in 1979 to southern Spain at Torrequebrada in Benalmádena, near Málaga, where South African Dale Hayes triumphed. In an event that for the first time had a title sponsor – Benson&Hedges.

In 1983 Eamonn Darcy prevailed over home favourites Manuel Piñero, José María Cañizares and Manuel Montes on a thrilling final day. Sir Nick Faldo’s 1987 carded a two-shot victory over Seve Ballesteros and South Africa’s Hugh Baiocchi.

Faldo later saying the win was a “major turning point”, which restored his confidence as two months later he claimed the first of his six Major titles at The Open Championship.

The event was held consecutively in 2005 and 2006 at The San Roque Club where Sweden’s Peter Hanson and Niclas Fasth, earned playoff victories over Peter Gustafsson and John Bickerton respectively. Then Seville hosted the 2008, 2010 and 2012 editions at Real Club de Golf de Sevilla. A José María Olazábal layout that proved so favourable for Peter Lawrie.

At Valderrama Lawrie goes in search of his own turning point following his failure to regain a playing card at Q School in PGA Catalunya last year. But with renewed confidence, and a friend on the bag there are reasons to be cheerful for this 90th Edition of the Open de Espana.

Lawrie will be joined at the San Roque course by fellow Irish players Paul McGinley and Paul Dunne.

The Real Club Valderrama Open de España, Hosted by the Sergio García Foundation runs from April 14-17th 2016

8/07/2015

Ryder rather than Rio - GMAC

Graeme McDowell says making the Irish Olympic team for Rio next year is well down on his list of priorities.

GMAC is more focused on putting himself into contention for a place on Darren Clarke's Ryder Cup team and going to France to participate in the French Open, a tournament that has served him well in the past.

While McDowell says the calendar for next year is "a mess", he has clearly stated where his priorities lie and championed Padraig Harrington and Shane Lowry to represent Ireland.

"Where will I be? I'll probably be in France, and I'm okay to sort of admit that. I'd like to have the option, like I say, but France has been very good to me, and that's probably where I'll have to be," McDowell told in an interview with Irishgolfdesk.com.

"It's going to be difficult because Shane is obviously a fantastic player. Padraig has obviously shown some big signs as well.

"I'll be more interested in making the Ryder Cup team, to be honest with you, come that point in the season. That's always my focus. I think the Olympics are so hard to quantify.

"I'm not going to get myself into a race with Shane or Padraig. I'm just not going to get into a race with them. I'm going to be trying to take care of my own business and get myself on a Ryder Cup team and have a big 2016.

"If the Olympics gets in the way, great. I'm not going to get myself in a head-to-head battle with these guys. There's no point. I can only control my golf ball. Of course I'd love to be there, let's be honest."

1/07/2015

McGinley Expects Rory Tiger Battle

Paul McGinley believes a head-to-head battle between Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods over the next year would be "great for our sport".

McIlroy soared to the top of the world rankings after winning two majors in 2014 while Woods spent most of the year on the sidelines following back surgery.

Woods returned to action last month as he hosted the Hero World Challenge in Florida armed with a "new, old swing" constructed under the watchful eye of biomechanics coach Chris Como.

The 39-year-old was generally consistent from tee to green, but his short-game was in disarray as he finished last in the elite 18-man field - 26 shots behind runaway winner Jordan Spieth.

"Rivalries are what sport is built on. For somebody to rise up this year and have a real head-to-head battle with Rory would be great for our sport"

But McGinley expects a healthy Woods to climb back up the world rankings this year, and the victorious Ryder Cup captain hopes to see a number of showdowns between the 14-time major champion and McIlroy.

"I saw Tiger play in his tournament and the one thing that was very clear, and speaking to some of the guys that have played with him recently too, is that he's got his distance back," McGinley told Reuters.

"If you are playing at the top level in professional golf now you've got to be hitting the ball a long way. Rory has got that, he's one of the longest hitters in the world, and it looks like Tiger has got that back. That's going to be a big asset for him.

"Rivalries are what sport is built on. For somebody to rise up this year and have a real head-to-head battle with Rory would be great for our sport."

Woods has attracted many critics over the last few years for his on-course behaviour as well as his infamous off-course transgressions, but McGinley admits he remains the star attraction every time he tees up.

"Tiger is one of those guys that moves the needle in so many ways," added McGinley. "Not everybody is a fan of Tiger and some people like to see him doing badly so he moves the needle one way or the other.

"On the other side it's been seven years since he won a major championship. There's pressure on him to reach Jack Nicklaus' record of 18 major wins and it'll be interesting to see how competitive he is this year.

Back in the swing

"If he gets into contention at a major, will he be able to follow through and win? He's made changes, he has gone back to trying to find the golf swing he used as a young boy and a swing that comes natural to him.

"It's very difficult to do what Tiger has done. Very few players have done that. Nick Faldo did it and Padraig Harrington did it, completely ripping apart their swings, putting it back together and still being successful.

"Tiger has gone backwards and it will be interesting to see if he can use that to go forwards and use it as a base to win major championships again."

But McGinley also expects McIlroy to add significantly to his tally of four major crowns, and he believes the Northern Irishman will be tough to dislodge at the top of the world rankings.

He said: "There are a lot more wins in Rory yet. He's incredibly talented, he's proved himself at the very top level and he's the undisputed No 1 player in the world."

12/20/2014

Harrington Receives PGA Award

Getty Images

Padraig Harrington is the 2014 recipient of the PGA Recognition Award for his outstanding contribution to golf.

The Dubliner, who returned to the winner’s rostrum with his victory in the recent Indonesian Open, picked up the accolade at the PGA’s annual fundraiser at the Grosvenor House Hotel.

Harrington has scaled the heights of world golf with back to back Open Championship victories at Carnoustie in 2007 and Royal Birkdale a year later.

He also held off the challenge of Sergio Garcia to land the USPGA Championship at Oakland Hills in 2008 to become the first European to win back-to-back Major Championships.

It was deserved reward for his efforts on the practice ground where he would famously spend days on end with coach Bob Torrance fashioning a swing to accompany his deadly accurate short game.

The three-time Walker Cup player turned professional in 1995 and has chalked up 14 European Tour victories plus several more worldwide.

In addition he has enjoyed huge success in the Ryder Cup, making six appearances, helping Europe to four wins – the last in 2010.

Harrington was also a vice captain to fellow Irishman Paul McGinley at Gleneagles and is widely touted as a future captain.

Away from the fairways he has been equally dedicated, establishing the Padraig Harrington Charitable Foundation, becoming an ambassador for both the R&A and Special Olympics and also supporting a number of charities including the Oesophageal Cancer Fund and the 3Ts.

PGA chief executive Sandy Jones said: “Padraig is a golfer who inspires tremendous affection on the world stage, not just for his brilliant golf but for his dedication and passion and also for the way he conducts himself and which has made him hugely popular in the game.

“The PGA Recognition Award is our way of acknowledging great achievements in the game and I’m delighted on behalf of the PGA’s membership to bestow this accolade on Padraig – he is a deserving winner and credit to the sport.”

Commenting on the award, Harrington said: “The PGA does outstanding work on behalf of its members and fulfills an important role in growing and promoting the game of golf for the benefit of all.

“It’s a real honour to receive the PGA Recognition Award from such a respected organisation and I am delighted that my career achievements have been recognised with this special distinction.”

The PGA lunch is an important fundraiser for the PGA’s Benevolent Fund which helps members who have fallen on difficult and hard times.

11/25/2014

McIlroy Shortlisted for BBC SPOTY

Rory McIlroy is a strong favourite to round off the most successful spell of his career with the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award after being confirmed among the 10 shortlisted contenders on Monday.

McIlroy, who won the final two majors of the year as well as helping Europe retain the Ryder Cup, will bid to become the first golfer to win the prestigious award since Nick Faldo in 1989.

But McIlroy could face a stern challenge from Lewis Hamilton, who claimed his second Formula One world title in Abu Dhabi at the weekend and finished second in the voting in both 2007 and 2008.

The winner of the award will be announced at the culmination of the live show on December 14 at the Hydro Arena in Glasgow, following a public vote.

But Scottish fans will have no local favourite to support after last year's winner Andy Murray was left off the final contenders following a year in which he failed to add to his twocareer grand slam titles.

Gareth Bale is the only footballer to make the cut after an impressive first season with Real Madrid, while boxer Carl Froch also earns a place after his conclusive Wembley rematch win over George Groves.

Olympic and World Cup skeleton champion Lizzy Yarnold is joined by skiers Kelly Gallagher and guide Charlotte Evans, who were crowned Great Britain's first Winter Paralympic champions when they won the women's visually-impaired Super G in Sochi in March.

Charlotte Dujardin, who picked up two dressage world titles this year, and Jo Pavey, whose 10,000m gold in Zurich made her the oldest female European champion in history at the age of 40 and 325 days, take the total list of female contenders to four.

The list is completed by gymnast Max Whitlock, who won world, European and Commonwealth medals in 2014, and swimmer Adam Peaty, who won four European titles and two Commonwealth Games golds.

The shortlist was decided by a panel of former nominees, newspaper sports editors and television sport executives.

9/30/2014

Garcia Praises McGinley Captaincy

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Sergio Garcia intends to copy Paul McGinley's winning formula if he ever becomes Europe's Ryder Cup captain.

McGinley has received widespread praise for his methods after overseeing Europe's victory over the United States at Gleneagles.

The Irishman made much of his captaincy template in the build-up and during the event itself and Garcia, who scored 2.5 points in the 16.5-11.5 win for the hosts, believes it was a near-perfect blueprint.

The 34-year-old Spaniard said: "They say perfection doesn't exist, but if perfection doesn't exist then he has been as close as you can get to it.

"I think he has done a great job and I have learned a lot from him.

"Hopefully, one year, in the long-term future, I can bring some of his thoughts into my captaincy. It would be great, it was amazing."

Garcia felt the whole week at Gleneagles Hotel was a success from start to finish.

"We always have such amazing teams," he said. "The chemistry we have between us is just amazing.

"I just feel so honoured and proud to be part of it. I couldn't think of nicer teams to be around in the team room, not only the players but the captain and vice-captains, the wives, everybody."

Garcia has played under a number of captains and lost twice. The with Mark James in 1999 at The Country Club and then in 2008 when Nick Faldo was captain in Valhalla.

The winning occasions were when Sam Torrance was captain in 2002 at The Belfry; Bernhard Langer at Oakland in Hills in 2004 and Ian Woosnam at The K Club. He also played under his fellow countryman Jose Maria Olazabal n 2012.

In 2010 at The Celtic Manor Colin Montgomerie named the experienced Spaniard as a non plating Vice Captain.

9/29/2014

Monty and Faldo Critical of Mickelson

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Phil Mickelson's scathing criticism of United States Ryder Cup captain Tom Watson sparked a firestorm of reaction on Sunday with former European skippers Colin Montgomerie and Nick Faldo saying the American was out of line.

Former PGA Tour player Brandel Chamblee, who now works as a golf analyst for Golf Channel, went even further, describing Mickelson as a golfer who had "corrupted the experience of the Ryder Cup".

Shortly after the US had slipped to yet another Ryder Cup defeat to Europe on Sunday, Mickelson told a news conference his captain had not engaged with the players and should have stuck with the system that worked so successfully in 2008.

Both Montgomerie and Faldo responded by saying that Mickelson, a former world No 2, should have kept his thoughts to himself.

"Should we go into this one hour after we've been defeated? The answer is a flat no," said Montgomerie, who captained Europe to Ryder Cup victory at Celtic Manor in 2010

"You support your captain under all circumstances. In public, you respect and honour your captain.

"The PGA of America selected Tom Watson as the best choice to try to win the Ryder Cup back. Unfortunately, the team didn't perform for Tom."

Faldo, a losing Ryder Cup captain at Valhalla in 2008 when his American counterpart, Paul Azinger, achieved success with his "pod" system of four groups of three players who practised and played together, agreed.

"That should have been a private conversation," said Faldo. "Phil certainly doesn't respect Tom Watson. He threw his captain right under the bus."

Montgomerie implied that the importance of the captain at a Ryder Cup was overrated.

"The Europeans happened to play better (at Gleneagles), it's as simple as that," said Montgomerie.

"I think Tom Watson did the best with (what) he had. It doesn't matter who captains a team really. It's up to the players to bring back those points."

Mickelson, who has now lost eight of his 10 Ryder Cups, was a frustrated figure during the US team's news conference at Gleneagles while he praised the successful strategy adopted by Azinger in 2008.

"Paul Azinger got everybody invested in the process," said Mickelson. "We use that same process in the President's Cup and we do really well.

"Unfortunately, we have strayed from that for the last three Ryder Cups and we need to consider maybe getting back to that formula that helped us play our best."

Chamblee immediately piled the criticism upon Mickelson.

"That was as close to a one-man mutiny as I ever seen," he said. "I think that's a moment that Phil would like to have back.

"If you are looking for a reason why the United States continues to lose, you just saw it, you saw it in one man - Phil Mickelson.

"Phil Mickelson, along with the best players of that era, have so corrupted the experience of the Ryder Cup for their fellow competitors by not having records anywhere near what they should, given their rank in the game and what they've achieved."

Mickelson, a five-time major champion, now has a win-loss-half record of 16-19-6 from his 10 Ryder Cups.

"Players of an era who are the best go to the Ryder Cup and show off, not goof off," added Chamblee. "Phil Mickelson in 2004 changed clubs at the Ryder Cup, the week of, and the day before he went to practise at another golf course.

"This is yet another example of (Americans) not coming together as team."

Montgomerie wondered why Mickelson had been the only player on the 12-man US team who did not travel on the chartered jet to Scotland last week.

"I have a big problem with that," Montgomerie said. "The team should fly as a 12. We have to start out as we want to finish, as a team."

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