Busy Fortnight for Relaxed McIlroy

So far Rory McIlroy is refusing to press any panic buttons after the worst Open Championship finish of his career to date.

In an event that he hoped would bring him his second major title and take him back to world number one, it all ended with him down on eight over par and outside the top 50 after a closing 73. The 23-year-old had been in joint fifth spot when he opened with a 67, but he then had a 41-hole stretch containing only one birdie.

"I think the thing for me is to stay patient," said the Northern Irishman, whose previous lowest finish in the event was 47th.

"If it doesn't happen over the next couple of weeks no big deal. It's a 20-year career, so I'm not going to get too wound up just over a few weeks."

McIlroy, had arrived at Lytham on the back of four missed cuts in his previous six starts, is next in action at the Bridgestone World Championship in Akron on Thursday.

The next major chance is the week after at Kiawah Island in South Carolina for the USPGA Championship.

"I've got to keep working away, plugging away, working on the right things and eventually it will come around," he said.

Asked about the Ryder Cup in September, he added: "The thing about the Ryder Cup, I'm going to be left out if I'm not playing too good."

He knows that is not going to happen. He leads the points race with only five weeks to go.

"No, it's fine," McIlroy said. "Everyone goes through little struggles. What I'm experiencing at the minute is frustrating at times, but it's not anything that I can't deal with.

"I'm obviously very disappointed because I felt like I was coming in here playing pretty well. I had a really nice first round, set myself up well for the week and then just started to struggle after that."

Profile - Caroline Westrup - Ladies Irish Open

Nickname: Carro and Line

Born: February 11 1986 in Kristianstad, Sweden

Represents: Kristianstads GK

Residence: Tallahassee Florida

Status: Turned professional summer of 2009

Education: Florida State University (Graduated with a degree in Sport Management and minor in communication fall 2009.) GPA 3, 68

Family: Father Charlie, mother Helene, sister Emelie

Favorite food: Raclette & sushi

Favorite movie: Mamma Mia

Favorite music: Hip Hop & R&B

Favorite golf course: Kristianstad, Gray Hawk, Seminoles

Best round: 66/ -7 New Port CC, Wales (British girls 2003)

Hobbies: Sports, friends & family, shopping, travel, cooking

About

Started to play golf when I was about 8 years old. In the beginning, it was obviously just for fun, but soon went to become much more determined. When I was 16, I moved away from my parents to go to a golf high school and I think it was during this time I realized that golf was something I could see myself doing for the rest for my life. Ever since my goal and dream has been to become a professional golfer and play against the best players in the world on the LPGA tour.

Therefore, after high school I moved across the ocean to Florida and enrolled at Florida State University to fulfill my dreams. I felt I was not ready to turn professional right away and my main goal at FSU was to improve my golf game, but also to graduate and get an education.

My four years at Florida State were successful and I learned a lot about myself as a person but also as a golf player. Florida State was not just about golf and education, but about getting ready for my professional career. Therefore, I got involved in many different things on campus, for example student government, boosters and SAAC. They all involved meetings and prepared me for the business and social side. I also got a lot of networking and got to know people I would have never met otherwise. Addition, to this I did an internship with sports information for two years as well. Now I feel ready for the “real” life and would not have choice any other school, because it prepared me for everything not just golf and school.

I have had a lot of success when it comes to the golf game:

Played for the national team since 2001

Four time All –American and All- ACC

Three Gold medals and three silver medals at the European Championship

First place at the World Amateur Championship 2006

Five individual college victories

Number one at the college ranking 2006/2007

Second place at the European Tour in Finland 2005

Played the Jr. Solheim Cup 2003 (beat the United States)

With these results, I am going to have a good chance on achieving my dreams and be successful. I am a very positive, outgoing, independent, goal oriented and stubborn person, who works hard for what I want. 

My main goal has always been to become, as good as I can be. With hard work and determination, I know time will show the results and I will become one of the best players in the world.


www.carolinewestrup.com

Ladies Irish Open Winner - Sophie Gustafson

Sophie Gustafson was born on 27 December 1973, and is a Swedish professional golfer  based on the LPGA Tour and a life member of the Ladies European Tour. 

She has four LPGA and 22 international wins in her career. She is a two time LET Order of Merit winner and has represented Europe in the Solheim Cup in each match since 1998. 

Sophie Gustafson turned professional in 1992 whilst studying marketing, economics and law at Aranasskolan & Komvux University in Sweden. In the next three years she played 12 Telia Tour and four Ladies European Tour tournaments. 

On the Telia tour she had six top ten finishes. Her best finish on the LET was a 22nd at her home tournament in Sweden. Gustafson was a member of Europe's Solheim Cup team in 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005 and 2007. 

Hobbies include motorbikes and music. Purchased a “Triumph Tiger” motorbike in 2004. 

Credits Seve Ballesteros and Solheim Cup team mate Laura Davies as the individuals most influencing her career. 

In 2011, gave a sit-down interview for The Golf Channel during The Solheim Cup for the first time despite a stuttering problem and then in January 2012, named the recipient of the Golf Writers’ Association of America (GWAA) Ben Hogan Award for remaining active in golf despite a physical handicap or serious illness. 

TOUR VICTORIES

2011 European Nations Cup (team event partnering Anna Nordqvist), 

2010 Comunitat Valenciana European Nations Cup (team event partnering Anna Nordqvist), 2010 AIB Ladies Irish Open. 

2007 De Vere Ladies Scottish Open, 2006 Siemens Austrian Ladies Open. 

2003 Ladies Irish Open, BT Open, HP Open. 

2002 Biarritz Ladies Classic. 

2001 AAMI Australian Open, 2011 Waterford Crystal Irish Open

2000 Ladies Italian Open, 2000 Waterford Crystal Ladies Irish Open, 2000 Weetabix Women’s British Open, 

1998 Donegal Irish Ladies Open, 1998 Marrakech Palmeraie Open, 

1996 Deese Ladies Swiss Open. 

OTHER VICTORIES

1996 Rörstrand Open, 1997 Thailand Open, 1998 Telia Final, 1998 Princess Lalla Meryem Cup. 2000 Chick-fil-A Charity Championship, TSN World Cup Golf (partnering Carin Koch), 2001 Subaru Memorial of Naples. 2003 Samsung World Championship. 2003 Catalonia World Matchplay Championship. 2009 CVS/pharmacy LPGA Challenge.

SOLHEIM CUP

1998, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011

GMAC and McIlroy Play the Bridgestone

Ernie Els and World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational champion Adam Scott  highlight a strong field of contenders when the best players from across the globe come to Firestone Country Club, August 1-5. 

Ten more players, led by Graeme McDowell, also punched their tickets to Akron after cracking the top 50 in the Official World Golf Ranking. Only a win this week at the RBC Canadian Open, or moving into the top 50 in the world, will earn a player a last-minute spot in the Bridgestone Invitational field.

Els' second career win at the British Open came after shooting a 32 on the back nine which included a clutch birdie on the 18th hole. Els entered the final round trailing Scott, his good friend, by six strokes. Scott bogeyed the final four holes to lose by one stroke despite having a comfortable lead throughout most of the day. Els has qualified for all 12 of the previous Bridgestone Invitational events, sitting out in 2005 due to injury. His best finish came in the inaugural event in 1999, when he finished 5th. 

He has two career World Golf Championships victories, both at the Cadillac Championship (2004, 2010).

Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell headlines a group of nine players from the top 50 in the Official World Golf Ranking, not otherwise qualified, who gained entry to the Bridgestone Invitational following this weekend's action. McDowell, No. 11 after a T5 at last week's British Open, has four top-10 finishes on the PGA TOUR this year, including a T2 at the U.S. Open. McDowell will play the Bridgestone Invitational for the seventh time, looking to better his career-best finish in Akron, a T22 in 2010.

Other players who qualified via their Official World Golf Ranking:

There are 77 players from 16 countries who have qualified for this year's event. Players who moved into the top 50 in the World Golf Ranking this week or the winner of the RBC Canadian Open will complete the field.

Padraig Harrington, outside the world top 50,  has opted to play the Reno-Tahoe Open Montreux G&CC, Reno, Nevada.

Killeen Ready for Ladies Invasion

This week Norway’s Suzann Pettersen returns to the Jack Nicklaus Signature Course at Killeen Castle, County Meath to defend her title as Ladies Irish Open Champion. Teeing off on 3rd August, world no. 6, Pettersen will be joined by a selection of the world’s best female golfers as they battle it out in the quest to win one of the most prestigious competitions on the Ladies European Tour. 

Taking to the field in what is set to be one of the most competitive line-ups of the tour this season are four-time Irish Open Champion Sophie Gustafson and golfing legends Laura Davies and Karen Stupples as well as Solheim Cup Star England’s Melissa Reid.

The Ladies Irish Open supported by Fáilte Ireland takes place from the 3rd – 5th August at Killeen Castle, Dunsany, Co. Meath. Large crowds are expected to attend the event which is now one of the biggest events on the Ladies European Tour with a prize fund of €350,000.

Irish spectators will have plenty to cheer about with a wealth of home grown talent on show including Ireland’s top player, Rebecca Codd, recently turned professional, Danielle McVeigh from County Down, Carlow’s Tara Delaney and Dublin’s Martina Gillen. The sensational amateur twins, Leona & Lisa Maguire aged 17, jointly named Women’s Amateur of the Year at the AIB Irish Golf Writers’ awards for 2011, will also compete against the world’s best professionals.

Tournament Director, Roddy Carr commented, “I would encourage people of all ages to take this opportunity to watch some of the world’s best golfers compete in one of the finest golfing venues in Ireland. I am delighted that such a strong international field will compete in this year’s Ladies Irish Open and I am particularly pleased that so many of the victorious European Solheim Cup players will return to Killeen Castle, where they enjoyed one of the most dramatic wins over the USA in Solheim Cup history.”

Along with the top-class golf, there will be plenty entertainment for all including live music each day and a dedicated Kidzone and Junior Golf area. There will be a traditional Farmer’s Market which will provide a variety of delicious culinary delights and treats including The Thai BBQ, Tasty Land Asian Noodle Bar, Jarek’s Kitchen and for a more traditional option Gran Clarks Bakery will serve up tart’s, bracks and muffins.

www.ladiesirishopen.ie.