In the Rough

Golf legend Seve Bellesteros is said to be stable in intensive care in the Madrid hospital, which performed the three brain operations over the last week.

Bellesteros needed a third operation last Friday to reduce swelling and also to remove the remaining of his brain tumour. The legend is said to be responding well to the third operation and in a stable condition. The news of the third operation being a success is only good news for the golfing world as Seve is not only a legend in the game but also one of the much loved guys on the tour.

Fellow spaniard Sergio Garcia dedicated his win at last weeks Castello Masters in Valencia to Seve Bellesteros and wished him all the health for the future, views shared by the golfing world.

During his illustrous career Seve Bellesteros has won 87 titles including The Open in 79,84 and 88. Seve has also won The Masters in 1980 and 1983. Bellesteros retired last year with arthritic back and knee problems.

Sweden’s Niclas Fasth goes into the weekend sharing the lead with Australian Mitchell Brown after carding a second successive 68 at the Iskando Johor Open. Mitchell Brown shot a second round 69 to be in a great position for the weekend. they are both on 8 under in the $500,000 Asiam Tour event.

Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand who was the former Asian number one sits a further shot back on 7 under after producing one of the rounds of the day with a brilliant 66. Fellow Asian Thaworn wirachant is also well in contention after two rounds of 69.

42 players still havent finished their second rounds after lightening held play up for over two hours.

During the second days play at Valderrama only four hour’s play was possible at the Volvo Masters. The current leaders Sergio Garcia and Soren Kjeldsen were among a group of ten players who did not even manage to tee off their round before play was stopped due to adverse weather conditions.

The current defending champion of the Volvo Masters England’s Justin Rose was one of the players to complete his round but probably wished he hadn’t after not breaking 80 for the second day in a row. Rose withdrew shortly after his round after been told of the unfortunate death of his Grandfather.

In the race for the order of merit Leader Robert Karlsson was three over after four holes and Ireland’s Padraig Harrington five over after 13 holes. Lee westwood is in a strong position though on one under but has yet to start his second round due to the bad weather.

The tournament could be cut short to 54 or even 36 holes with torrential rain now forecast for the full weekend.

One of the funniest but strangest stories I have been reading about golf this week is about an up and coming star by the the name of Nala Kconrahc.

He has been hovering around the edge of the proffessional scene for 4 or 5 years now with guest appearances in various tournaments with unexpected high results and even a hole in one in a local event in Scotland, United Kingdom.

The 30 year old is never likely to make it to full professional but is a perfect example of how you can turn your talent into cash as he has taken over £500,000 in winnings and sponsorship deals over the last 10 years.

Now that doesn’t sound much but £50k a year for doing something you love is a prime example of how you don’t have to be a Pro, to make a life in golf.

After his win on home soil over the weekend Spaniard Sergio Garcia has moved up to a career high of Number 3 in the current World Rankings. Garcia won by 3 shots at the Castello Masters in Valencia.

Sergio’s first win on the European Tour since 2005 was enough to push him above Vijay Singh. Garcia himself helped to host the event over the weekend as it was his home town course Club De Campo Mediterraneo where he grew up playing and his dad is still the club professional.

The 28 year old had previously finished 2nd on 7 separate occasions until he broke his three year duck at the Castello Masters.

A South Korean golfer known only as Jung has been fined by the South Korean Supreme High Court £911 for a shot, which left his caddy in hospital for over seven weeks.

The identity of the player is still unknown and the name issued by the Supreme High Court as a cover-up. What we do know though is what happened in this freak golf accident.

Two years ago at the Gunsan Province a Professional golfer (Jung) was playing a shot on the third hole and during his back swing lost his footing, which ended up with him hitting the ball the opposite way and hitting his caddie eight metres behind him in the stomach.

The Injury to the caddie left him with 7 weeks hospital treatment needed.

The Supreme High Court fined Jung £911 as they feel it was a violation of his duty of due care to prevent injury to others while playing sport.

Spanish golfer Sergio Garcia completed a dream weekend on home soil with a final round of four-under 67 to finish on 20 under par and take the Castello Masters by three strokes.

Garcia was greeted on the 18Th Green to standing ovation from the local crowd and a hug from his Father who is the golf professional at the Club de Campo course still. After Garcia held his nerve and sunk the final putt of his weekend he dedicated his win to Seve Ballesteros who has recently had three major operations from a Brain tumour and is seriously ill in a Madrid Hospital.

Behind Sergio was the two swedish golfers of Peter Hedblom ( 17 under) and Alexander Noren ( 15 under). Englands Simon Dyson finished along side Soren Kjeldsen and David Lynn on 14 under par.

Spain’s top golfer Sergio Garcia has said he will give 120% at this week’s Castello Masters in Costa Azahar as he tries to win his home town tournament.

The Spaniard currently ranked 5th in the World has been involved heavily in the planning of the Castello Masters. Garcia has aided with the lengthening of a couple of holes, more bunkers on the 10th (these are now within perfect driving distance) and also the addition of two lakes on the course.

Although this weekend Lee Westwood, Padraig Harrington and Robert Karlsson have dropped out of the Castello Masters to concentrate on the year ending Volvo Masters event next week there is still a strong field with Justin Rose, Paul Casey, Henrik Stenson and Sergio Garcia all competing.

Jose Maria Olazabal also has decided to play at Castello Masters in Valencia and is looking to maintain his course record of 61.

You can’t pick up a newspaper, visit a website or have a conversation with someone at present without the current Credit Crunch or global market condition being mentioned in some form.

Companies are being affected on a daily basis with even the major companies recording record losses for 2008. With Christmas coming up this is surely to still be maintained and it could be a very tough for small businesses as well as large companies this Christmas.

Could the Credit Crunch be affecting Golf? The answer is yes and in a number of ways.

When people start to feel the financial pinch it is often hobbies and sports, which are cut back on. Golf can also be very expensive with golf membership costing an average of £1000 per year, then your travel expenses throughout the year added on top and also the cost of golf clubs, golf balls and golf clothing.

To golf there is also the social side, which usually means a few beers after a game or even a weekend away with the lads and a night or two stay in a hotel again both these can be very costly.

To let you into a little insight I have just ordered a brand new gap wedge as I wanted one and not because I needed one so it got me thinking especially after the guy on the phone said it had been a quiet few weeks in terms of sales.

Will golf membership renewals be lower this year in the current credit crunch the answer is probably yes. Will people have to take out some secured loans to pay for there golf memberships in the coming months the answer is probably yes for some people. Times are tough at present but the golf course could also be the perfect escape from all the financial problems people are having.

Ireland’s Padraig Harrington shares the lead with American Jim Furyk after the first 18 of the 36 hole PGA Grand Slam of Golf in Bermuda.

The Grand Slam of Golf is being competed by Padraig Harrington, Jim Furyk, Retief Goosen and Trevor Immelman. The event is usually competed by the four major winners of the year but with Tiger Woods out injured and Padraig Harrington having won two of the four majors this year Jim Furyk and Retief Goosen have been drafted in.

The event has a £775,000 prize fund and even for last place their is a place of £120,000.