Lefty Takes New Open Approach

Bones, Lefty and Butch

Phil Mickelson is making a fresh start in his approach to links golf after 17 attempts have yielded one third place at Royal Troon in 2004 and a host of lowly and disappointing finishes. “I’m entering this year kind of like a fresh start. I’m not going to worry about past performances and I’m going to try to learn and enjoy the challenge of playing links golf. I don’t want to look back on past performances that haven’t been what I expect. But I feel excited and kind of reinvigorated to try to learn this style of golf and play it effectively.” He admitted that during today’s practice round he had played terribly. “But I really enjoyed it,” he insisted.

With a strong wind scouring the course he hit a driver at the 243-yard par-three 11th hole. “I busted a driver and came up short,” he said. “It was interesting to see a drive on 17 go 380 yards and a drive on 11 go 210. The air is so thick and the wind is so strong and it shows the importance of trajectory and flight. I think it’s a fun challenge whether I play well or not.”

After the thick rough and narrow fairways of 2003 he believes the course is now a much fairer test. “I’m very excited about the way the course is playing and the way it’s set up. It was really fun today. I wouldn’t say there’s an absence of rough, but it’s certainly not the wedge-out thick rough that we had in ‘03.

“To me the subtleties of this golf course come through now that we’re able to keep playing and not having to wedge back to the fairway. The first hole is a great example of what I see throughout the rest of the golf course. There are three bunkers in front of the green that you have to clear and the front of the green is pitched away pretty severely so you have to be in the fairway to get the ball stopped. If you’re coming out of the rough and it doesn’t have any spin, there’s no way you’ll stop the ball on the green.

“In 2003 the rough was so thick that you didn’t have a shot if you missed the fairway. You had to wedge back to the fairway so everyone was hitting from the fairway essentially even though only a third of the field managed to hit the fairway. Because of that the subtleties and the nuances and what really makes this course strategic didn’t come through the way they are this week and now its starting to really shine. I know the guys are really starting to enjoy it. I know I am and I’m starting to appreciate the golf course now.”

The man who has won three Masters and a USPGA Championship has no concerns over the lack of American success in the Majors over the past two years — five have now passed without the Stars and Stripes being raised — and he puts it down to the depth of talent that is now so evident internationally. “The quality of play now on the international circuit is some of the best I’ve seen. That probably explains it.”

Tee times

Golf Loses the Voice of Alex Hay

Alex Hay, who has died, aged 78, was a much respected Scottish PGA professional who rose from Club Professional to Managing Director at Woburn Golf and Country Club and also forged one of the most recognisable commentary partnerships in sport alongside Peter Alliss as part of the BBC golf team.

Hay was born in Edinburgh and educated at Musselburgh Grammar School. He joined Ben Sayers as an apprentice golf club maker and then became assistant to Bill Shankland, with whom Tony Jacklin, the 1969 Open Champion and 1970 US Open champion, started his career, at Potters Bar in Hertfordshire.

Hay, who qualified as a PGA in 1952, enjoyed spells as club professional at East Herts and Dunham Forest before moving to Ashridge Golf Club where he held a similar position for 13 years. In 1977 he joined Woburn Golf and Country Club as head PGA club professional and later became Managing Director.

George O’Grady CBE, Chief Executive of The European Tour, said: “We were very sad to learn that Alex had passed away. Alex was a true trail-blazer in that he made the move from club professional to Managing Director at Woburn Golf Club which hosted no fewer than 16 times the British Masters on The European Tour International Schedule. We will remember him for his passion, desire and dedication and on behalf of everyone at The European Tour, I offer our heartfelt condolences to his wife, Ann, and their sons, Graham and David.”

Hay was co-presenter with his great friend Peter Alliss of BBC’s coverage of golf, including The Open Championship and The Ryder Cup, between 1978 and 2004. Together they enjoyed a special rapport and brought humour and emotion to the commentary box in addition to a deep knowledge of the game for which they were much respected.

Alliss said: “It is a very sad day. I’ve known Alex some 35 years. I first met him before he was at Dunham Forest and have watched him develop, both as a teacher, as an artist – he was also a very good drawer and painter. I watched him as a professional at Woburn which he made into a really fantastic club.

“I greatly enjoyed working with Alex on television – he had a great sense of humour and we complemented each other well.

“Alex will be sorely missed by the golf community. He had a wonderful life – he said to me ‘Peter I’m 78, I’ve had a wonderful life. I’ve been round the world three or four times without ever having to put my hand in pocket, I’ve met vagabonds and princes, now I’m not going to lose my hair and my good looks.’

“He went out with the greatest dignity. I shall miss him enormously.”

Hay, who was also a Ryder Cup referee and an entertaining after-dinner speaker, wrote several golf instruction books, many concentrating on the techniques of the swing, and he played a key role in the drawings used in the PGA of Great Britain and Ireland’s training manual. He died on July 11 after a short illness and leaves a wife, Ann, and two sons, Graham and David.

Ian Poulter, who is attached to the Woburn Golf and Country Club, commented: “This is a very sad day. Alex Hay was the voice of golf for decades and our thoughts are with his family at this time.”

McIlroy Gets Early Start at Open

Tournament favourite Rory McIlroy will be among the early starters when the Open gets under way on Thursday morning.

The US Open champion will tee off at Sandwich at 0909 BST, alongside 2002 winner Ernie Els and American Rickie Fowler.

The Northern Irish star will be bidding to become the youngest Open champion since 1893.

McIlroy will start as the bookies' favourite at Royal St George's and the 22-year-old will be hoping for a similar start to last year at St Andrews, where he opened with a record-equalling 63 and went on to finish third - a second-round of 80 in poor Friday weather ruining his title hopes.

McIlroy has not played a competitive round since his stunning US Open triumph last month, but practised in Kent last week and will give his pre-tournament press conference on Tuesday.

American Jerry Kelly will get the tournament under way at 0630.

Other notable pairings see world number one Luke Donald - fresh from his victory at the weekend's Scottish Open - out in the group immediately after McIlroy. The Englishman will play with Japan's Ryo Ishikawa and Spaniard Sergio Garcia.

World number two Lee Westwood, third and second in the Open in the last two years, is alongside US Masters champion Charl Schwartzel and American Steve Stricker at 1410, with defending champion Louis Oosthuizen in the group behind alongside world number three Martin Kaymer and Phil Mickelson.

British amateur Tom Lewis, from the same Welwyn Garden City club which launched the career of three-time winner Sir Nick Faldo, is out at 1432 with five-time champion Tom Watson and Sweden's Henrik Stenson.

The last man to tee off will be Singapore's Lam Chih-bing, who has to wait until 1611 to begin his campaign.

McGimpsey Wins Irish Seniors Title

Garth McGimpsey (Bangor) coasted home to take the Irish Seniors Amateur Close title in Thurles by six shots after carding a final round of level-par 72.

The former Walker Cup captain had led by four shots going into the final round and after a front nine of one-under 35, he never looked back.

Defending champion Maurice Kelly (Killeen) made a spirited defence of his title, and a birdie at the final hole saw him take the runner-up spot by a shot from Portmarnock's Adrian Morrow.

Connacht Seniors champion Nigel Duke clinched the over-60s prize with a final round 75, while 

Tipperary's John O'Donoghue won the O-65 category and Blainroe's Alistair Smith was the victor in the O-70 category.

Irish Seniors Amateur Close Championship

Thurles Golf Club

Final Results

215 G McGimpsey (Bangor) 74 69 72 (WINNER)

221 M Kelly (Killeen) 75 74 72

222 A Morrow (Portmarnock) 74 76 72 

225 A Smith (The Island) 74 76 75

226 N Duke (Killiney) 74 77 75 (WINNER O-60)

227 N Lavin (The Royal Dublin) 78 75 74, H Smyth (Mourne) 75 75 77, B Donlon (Birr) 73 75 79

228 S Mc Parland (Greenore) 72 79 77, D Corcoran (Thurles) 72 75 81

230 A Pierse (Tipperary) 72 81 77

231 J Carroll (Bandon) 77 73 81

233 M Quirke (Doneraile) 82 74 77

234 B Cashell (Portmarnock) 79 76 79, J O'Donoghue (Tipperary) 79 75 80 (WINNER O-65)

235 H Mackeown (Portmarnock) 81 76 78, D Morris (Limerick) 79 75 81, M Ahern (Skerries) 77 79 79

236 B OLeary (Greystones) 82 76 78, A Smith (Blainroe) 80 78 78 (WINNER 0-70), P O'Rourke (Kilkenny) 79 75 82

237 L Mac Namara (Woodbrook) 79 78 80, T Hayes (K Club) 78 79 80, P Murphy (Carlow) 76 81 80

239 B Burke (Moate) 82 78 79

240 T Goode (Lucan) 79 80 81, T Tyrrell (The Heath) 78 80 82

241 M Coote (Tralee) 80 78 83, J Dempsey (Craddockstown) 78 82 81, M Brown (Rosapenna) 78 82 81, M Galvin (Limerick) 78 79 84

242 W Mernagh (Kanturk) 81 80 81, G O'Keeffe (Waterford) 81 77 84, B O'Connor (Hermitage) 80 76 86

243 E Condren (Greystones) 77 76 90

244 W O Brien (Tipperary) 87 77 80, P Harrington (Muskerry) 86 79 79

246 S Troy (Thurles) 80 81 85

247 B Mccarroll (Ballyliffin) 84 76 87

248 L Cushen (The Heath) 82 82 84, R Timlin (Galway) 81 83 84

249 B O.Malley (The Royal Dublin) 82 81 86

250 J Buckley (Douglas) 80 84 86

254 G O'Kennedy (Athlone) 83 80 91, T O Driscoll (Ring Of Kerry) 78 85 91

256 E Connolly (Blainroe) 81 82 93

NR J Gilbert (Druid's Glen) 80 84 NR

RTD V Smyth (Co. Louth) 80 79 RTD

WTD P Cowley (Cork) 83 73 RTD

NS P Brennan (The Heritage) 81 83 NS

Non-Qualifiers:

165 J McDonnell (Castletroy) 85 80, J McVeigh (Carlow) 85 80

166 B Mcdonnell (K Club) 88 78, J Cuffe (Monkstown) 86 80, I Smyth (Holywood) 84 82, D McHugh (Douglas) 78 88

167 G Eagleton (Virginia) 90 77, N Patterson (Milltown) 86 81, L Weir (Athenry) 85 82, K Heavin (Moate) 85 82, N Mannion (Dun Laoghaire) 80 87

168 R Fitzgerald (Tramore) 86 82, D Cash (Rosslare) 86 82, J Mcgrath (Newcastle West) 85 83

169 A McGlynn (Woodlands) 86 83

170 L Treacy (K Club) 84 86

171 T Campion (Athlone) 87 84, B Madden (Edmondstown) 85 86, D Sheedy (Lahinch) 84 87, A Williams (Sutton) 81 90

172 G Ryan (Nenagh) 84 88

173 M O'Sullivan (Gowran Park) 91 82, A Bell (Greencastle) 90 83, R Cotter (Delgany) 89 84, B O'Donnell (Douglas) 88 85, F Caine (Co. Louth) 88 85

174 W Leggett (The Island) 88 86

177 M Marshall (Mahee Island) 89 88

178 T Ledwidge (The Heritage) 87 91

181 P Fulham (Glenlo Abbey) 93 88, M Kearney (North West) 86 95

182 L Murray (Mourne) 86 96

184 P Ruddy (European) 94 90, D Lindsay (Strandhill) 89 95

187 J Scullion (Lurgan) 92 95

NR D Harte (Fota Island) 80 NR, P O Boyle (Athlone) 84 NR, P Broderick (Thurles) 85 NR

RTD P Smyth (Killiney) 80 RTD

WTD S Hosty (Galway) 85 WTD, J O'Malley (Rathdowney) 87 WTD, F Cronin (Muskerry) 88 WTD, R Smyth (Laytown & Bettystown) 88 WTD, J Corless (Galway) 88 WTD, R Mason (Old Conna) 81 WTD, M Stafford (Bandon) NR WTD, D O'Herlihy (Douglas) NR WTD

CSS 

Round 1 – 73 

Round 2 – 72

Round 3 – 74

Reed Wins Europro at Fota Island

Paul Reed wins Fota [Diane Cusack]

Paul Reed admitted he was stunned to have won his first ever PGA EuroPro Tour event – only two years after contemplating quitting golf.

Reed (Bristol and Clifton) clinched the Audi Cork Irish Masters at The Fota Island Resort in Cork, Ireland as he finished two shots ahead of South African Darryn Lloyd.

The victory gives Reed the £10,000 top prize, although it was something he could not have forecasted at the start of the week.

“I played a practice round on Monday and sent a text message to my family saying ‘don’t bet on me’ as I didn’t think I hit it long enough for this course,” admitted Reed.

"That might’ve helped as I’ve gone out there with no expectations and thought if I played well then maybe I could get a top 20 place but my short game has just been unbelievable.

“I’ve played tournaments where I’ve hit the ball better but the short game has been the best ever. It just seemed to work all week and I got up and down when I needed to. I’ve led a couple of times and totally messed them up but it feels really special to win this one.

“I made an effort to not look at the leaderboard and I just tried to play my normal game. It wasn’t until I was on the 18th when I asked our scorer to radio in and find out where I was and I found out I was ahead. When it sinks in I hope this victory will give me a massive boost to my confidence.”

Reed started Friday’s play with a one-shot lead and began his final round brightly with birdies at the second and fourth. A bogey at the fifth followed but he got back on track with birdies at the 13th, 14th and 16th.

Lloyd had already finished on -9 and a bogey at the 17th from Reed made it close but Reed made a birdie at the 18th to end on -11 and win by two shots to justify his decision to continue playing golf.

“I had always wanted to be a golf professional but it was just not going anywhere and I was pretty close to giving up about two years ago,” added Reed. “I had a lot of injuries as well and that has not made it easy.

“I have switched coaches and it’s given me a new lease of life. I always felt I was capable of winning but Simon Hurley has transformed my game and made me more steady.

“I’m not the type of person to feel sorry for myself and I just decided to give it 100 per cent and hopefully this is the start of reaping the rewards. The EuroPro Tour has a really good track record of producing top players.”

Reed moves up to third in the Order of Merit, where the top five players at the end of the season will advance to the Challenge Tour and be one step away from playing alongside the golfing elite on the main European Tour.

An inspiration for all golfers should be the progress of Scott Jamieson, who is currently level with Graeme McDowell and has a share of the lead on the second day of the Scottish Open on the European Tour.

This comes less than two years after Jamieson was winning events on the EuroPro Tour and Reed will hope to follow in Jamieson’s footsteps.

Ireland’s Niall Turner and Scotland’s Shaun McAllister (Craigielaw) both finished tied third on -8 at Fota Island with Kevin Harper (East Devon) in fifth.

The action is being filmed and Matchroom Sport will produce a two-hour highlights package that will be broadcast on Sky Sports on Wednesday, July 20.

Final leaderboard