In the Rough

Okay this headline is probably a couple of year’s off been true and on the cover of all golf magazine’s, newspapers and Internet sites but one day it will be true - according to South African Ernie Els.

After impressive displays since his tour debut McIlroy has won many fans on tour and is arguably one of the main attractions left at the World Golf Championship Accenture Match Play with World number Tiger Wood’s already out to another South African Tim Clark.

McIlroy who is only 19 years old has a very strong game and if he carries on down the right path could well be Golfs next Number One Golfer. It could be a long wait though for the Northern Irishman with Tiger Woods now back on the course surely he will be back to his best soon and extending that world number one lead.
The conqueror of Tiger Woods, Tim Clark found Rory Mcilroy too much to handle and lost 4 and 3 to him.

Rory McIlroy World Golf Champion 2009 is a more realistic target and could become true in a few days.

Young Japanese prodigy Ryo Ishikawa is set to make history at this years Augusta Masters after being given an invite from the Augusta National Golf Club.

Ishikawa will be the youngest ever professional to play at Augusta when he tee’s off on April 9th at this years first major of 2009. When on the first tee he will be 17 years, six months and 23 days.

This will only make Ryo Ishikawa the second youngest player in Augusta history though as the record is held by amateur Tommy Jacobs. The American played in the 1952 Augusta Championship at the age of 17 years, 1 month and 21 days.

With Jacobs only been an Amateur in 1952 it means Ryo Ishikawa will be the youngest ever professional at Augusta in history.

Augusta National Golf Club Chairman Billy Payne said “we see this opportunity to expose an emerging talent on world stage”

it has also been rumoured that Ryo Ishikawa will be playing at the Bay Hill Tournament in March after an invite from golf Legend Arnold Palmer. This event should also see the return of Tiger Woods.

Chris Woods has received a sponsors invite for next week Dubai Desert Classic.

Woods who only last year was a 21 year old amateur who finished fifth in the British Open.

After going through the Qualifying school in November Woods Turned professional and is reliant on a lot of sponsors invite for the European Tour in 2009 to be in the major competitions, however a few good performances could get him into the tournaments without sponsors deals.

Woods as a professional has already finished 10th in the Portugal Masters and sixth in the recent South African Open.

American golfer John Daly who is currently banned from the USPGA tour has been invited to the Dubai Desert Classic as has former British Open champion Mark O’Meara.

England’s Ian Poulter will miss this next week’s Abu Dhabi Golf Championship after deciding to undergo corrective eye surgery instead.

The world number 26 is hoping that by missing the tournament and having the eye surgery it will help his full campaign in 2009 and hopefully help him to move up in the world rankings and challenge for the Order of Merit title.

Over recent times Poulter has been struggling to see in poor light and if some rounds were to finish later on it could seriously hamper his round of golf.

Poulter has listened to his doctor by taking the time out to have corrective surgery as he has been told that continuing to play could deteriorate the problem further and may lead to persistent problems.

Ireland’s Padraig Harrington has picked up the Golf Writers Trophy for 2008 after his brilliant two major wins during the year.

By winning the award this year Harrington has become only the third person ever to win it back to back. Harrington picked up the trophy last year for his first major win but then went on to better it in 2008 with two major wins.

The only other two people to win the Golf Writers Award two years running is Peter Oosterhuis in 1973/1974 and Tony Jacklin 1969/1970.

Padraig Harrington also won the American Golf Writers Player of the Year which broke a three year winning streak for World Number one Tiger Woods.

World Number golfer Tiger Wood’s caddie has launched an attack on American golfer Phil Mickelson.

Steve Williams who has been a caddie to Tiger Woods for many years and is one of Tiger’s closest friends in the golfing world and outside was at a charity event when his comments reached the national press.

New Zealander Williams was asked about Phil Mickelson to which he responded “I wouldn’t call Mickelson a great player, because I hate the prick.”

There has been rumours for many years that Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson don’t get along and it would seem now that Steve Williams and Mickelson don’t get along either after his comments.

Woods and Mickelson show a good respect for each other but that is it. Woods has responded to the comments calling them “inappropriate” and has said he “dealt with the matter internally”.

American golfer has again proved he is the bad boy on tour.

During his first round, which was a disastrous 78 Daly hit a wayward shot into the rough.

As he was taking a drop shot a spectator came within six inches of his face and took a snap of the golfer.

With etiquette thrown out the window John Daly grabbed the camera and threw it against the tree. He then proceeded to shout “You want it back, i’ll buy you a new one”.

After his poor year on tour last year Daly is been paid appearance fee’s rather than a normal invite. In the last two events he missed the cuts and in this event he looks like doing the same, however for entertainment value Daly is the worth the appearance fee personally.

American golf legend John Daly announced to the world on Sunday afternoon that he is back and is looking forward to a successful 2009 season.

Daly produced a magnificent final round at the Hong Kong open of 62 which included eight birdies and no bogeys.

The two time major winner has spent the majority of the last few years in the papers for his health problems, gambling addictions and alcoholism so it was good for him to be in for the right reason’s this weekend.

After completing the brilliant round Daly moved up to an overall tie for 17th place in the Hong Kong Open and pocketed more money than he did in the whole of 2008 during the first event of the 2009 season.

Daly said “I’ve come from close to Ground Zero. But who knows? I’ve just got to keep working at it. Being healthy helps”.

What would be the odds on American John Daly winning a tournament this year?

American golfer JP Hayes may be sleeping easy with a clear conscience but when he wakes up he won’t be playing on the USPGA Tour in 2009.

Hayes himself was playing in the second round of the US Qualifying School in Texas when he used a different ball, which later turned out to be a ball not yet approved by the USPGA.

JP Hayes caddie threw JP a ball on the 12th Tee for the par three hole. This ball was a prototype Titleist golf ball that Hayes had been given to test three to four weeks ago and unfortunately it had found it’s way back into his golf bag.

Once Hayes had spotted the error he reported it to USPGA Officials and was given a two stroke for changing his golf ball during his round. It was then later that JP discovered that it was actually a ball not yet approved for tour use and he came clean to officials even though he knew it would cost him his place on the 2009 USPGA tour.

Golf legend Seve Ballesteros could leave intensive care this week at the La Paz hospital according to a statement realised on 14th November by hospital doctors.

Seve is still being closely monitored but they have said “he continues to improve” and once he is stable and well enough he will leave the intensive care unit.

Seve Ballesteros was admitted to hospital on 6th October after losing consciousness at Madrid Airport. He has since had three brain operations to try and remove a brain tumour.

A family statement realised on his website last week said - “With the help of God, the neurosurgeons and their teams, and those who are keeping watch over his state of health at the intensive care unit, we trust with unquestioning faith Seve will come out successfully from this hardship”

The 51 year old Spanish legend retired from golf last year.