Donald draws on Nicklaus advice

Luke Donald (Getty Images)

Luke Donald is aiming to improve his long game ahead of this week’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship after some advice from arguably the game’s greatest ever player.

World Number One Donald enjoyed a dream year in 2011, winning the Race to Dubai, the US PGA Tour money list, his first World Golf Championship and the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

But a first Major Championship still eludes him, so the Englishman has turned to the man with more of those on his CV than anyone else.

“Certainly I do believe the key to winning, for me to try and contend and win Majors, is to continually improve my driving,” said Donald.

“I think Majors become trickier around the greens, and they are firmer, smaller greens usually. It's more prevalent to hit it in the fairways at Majors. It's something Jack Nicklaus told me last year - he thinks he was successful because he drove it very well. I think that's the area I would love to continue to improve.

“I certainly made some pretty good improvements last year, but I still have a long way to go.”

Donald will have to wait until the Masters Tournament in April to see if Nicklaus – who won 18 Majors – has set him on the right track.

For the time being, Donald’s target is to make a flying start to his Race to Dubai defence, as he prepares to line up alongside Tiger Woods and US Open Champion Rory McIlroy at Abu Dhabi Golf Club.

“It’s a great draw,” said Donald. “I’m always excited to be in those kind of marquee groups, and it will be good to play with Tiger again. Obviously it's been a while, and got to play with Rory a few weeks ago in Dubai and looking forward to that pairing. It’s a fantastic group.

“Last year was a hugely important one for me in terms of dealing with pressure and being able to come out on top when it mattered.”

As well as plenty of celebrating on the course, Donald also had reason to be cheerful off it as his wife Diane gave birth to their second child.

But the Scottish Open champion revealed his preparation has not been too badly affected by sleepless nights.

“Certainly there are always challenges with new babies but ours has been very good in terms of sleeping very well,” he added. “It has not really been a distraction in terms of that. It's been another blessing really.

“I had four and a half, five weeks off, since my last event, and put the clubs away for three weeks - didn't touch them and the last couple of weeks, just been working on very similar stuff worked on last year, really trying to get my swing a little bit more solid, especially with the longer clubs and create a bit more consistency with that.

“The overall goal for me is to continue to improve and get better. The goal every year is to try to win the biggest events, and those are the Majors. Obviously having a year like I did last year, I did everything but win a Major in a way.

“That would be at the top of my goals, to try and win a Major. But obviously you have to put yourself into contention first.”

Information by www.europeantour.com

Rory McIlroy (Getty Images)

Rory McIlroy feels ready to make a fast start to 2012 as he kicks off his season tomorrow at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, where he is paired with Tiger Woods and World Number One Luke Donald on the opening two days.

The 22 year old US Open champion has finished 11th, fifth, third and second in the event the past four years and would love to see that improvement continue.

"It's a golf course that I feel suits me," he said today. "Maybe doesn't suit me as well as it does Martin Kaymer, but I'm getting there."

The German, out later in the first round with Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia, has won the title two of the past three years and three of the last four.

"It's a great way to start the year and I'm excited to get the new season up and running," added McIlroy, who practised with Woods for nine holes yesterday.

"It was good. He seems like he's happy with everything - I know he's definitely happy that he feels like he's back to 100% fitness, which is great for him.

"He hit a lot of good shots out there, so I think he's worked hard in the off-season and looks like his game is in pretty good shape.

"It's definitely not a quiet way to start the year. You're playing with two of the best golfers in the world in the first two days and you're up against one of the strongest fields probably that will be assembled this year.

"You want to try and get off to a good start, so you want to try and play well, but obviously the majors have that little bit extra."

McIlroy's last appearance in the Middle East was for last month's Dubai World Championship presented by DP World, where he was struggling with suspected Dengue fever.

"I definitely wasn't feeling my best the last couple of weeks of the season. I actually stayed out in Dubai for ten days afterwards - I was advised not to travel anywhere for at least a week.

"I got home on December 22, spent three or four days at home, then flew to Thailand to spend New Year with my family and Caroline's family as well."

Westwood will be delighted to start 2012 as he ended 2011, winning in South Africa and Thailand either side of the Dubai event.

"The most pleasing thing was about four weeks prior to that I started working with Phil Kenyon, my new putting coach," said the world number two.

"To shoot 62 around Sun City and then 60 and 64 around the course in Thailand you need to start making a few 15-footers, which I've been missing for the previous 17 years!

"Once they start going in all of a sudden you turn what would be a good round of 65 into a 60 or 62."

Westwood's main aim for the season, of course, is to try to end his wait for a Major.

"I think it's very difficult to win a Major without making a few (putts) that are surprising or bonuses, so if I can start rolling in a few 25- to 30-footers that's obviously going to make a massive difference.

"The difference with Phil is that my practice is a lot more structured and based around drills to make sure that I do the same thing over and over again.

"And other than saying that I'm not answering any more questions on putting.

"It helps your whole game. It gives you confidence - if you start making putts that you have not been making then it takes the pressure off your long game."

information by www.europeantour.com

 

 

 

LA JOLLA, Calif. -- In terms of difficulty, the doctor said the operation was a 1 on a scale of 10.

Still, it was brain surgery, and J.B. Holmes had every right to be nervous. Would the bouts of vertigo stop? Would the pounding in his head go away? And on a purely practical level, would the two-time PGA TOUR champ still be able to launch the ball in excess of 300 yards?

There was only one way to find out. Holmes had been diagnosed with Chiari malformation, which is a neurologial condition where the skull is either too small or misshapen and it starts to press on the brain tissue, pushing it down on the spinal canal and interfering with the normal flow of cerebrospinal fluid. That in turn can cause dizziness, headaches and problems with balance and coordination.

So on Sept. 1, Holmes let the surgeon take out a piece of his skull about three-quarters the size of a golf ball to relieve the pressure on the cerebellum. The covering of the brain was then opened and a patch -- in Holmes' case, made of a titanium mesh -- sewn in to provide more room for the brain.

"I just kept it out of my mind, basically until the day of (the operation)," he said. "Then I got to the hospital and started putting on the gown and everything else, and it was like, wow, I'm about to have brain surgery. So it really hits you then.

"But you've just got to put your faith in God and just hope everything comes out good."

So far, it has. His brown hair has grown back and you can hardly see the scar now. Holmes keeps the missing piece of skull sitting on the sill of a window in a closet in his house in Orlando where he sees it every day. He grew it, he figures he should keep it.

"It's just a reminder that I'm very fortunate to be able to go through something like that and be able to come back and play," Holmes said. "(I am) just very fortunate to have this job and be able to play a game for a living. ... I never really thought I wasn't going to come back, but there is always a possibility that everything doesn't go right and I don't get back out here.

"So (I am) just learning to appreciate the situation I'm in a little bit more and just enjoy it."

Holmes plans to do just that this week at the Farmers Insurance Open. It's his first tournament since the surgery and lengthy recovery, much of which he spent sitting as still as possible because he couldn't move his neck. Even now, he thinks he's only got about 85 percent rotation but it's getting better every day.

Home Leaderboard Tournaments Charles Schwab Cup Home Leaderboard Tournaments The 25 Instruction Travel Mobile TPC.com PGA.com Log In | Register CHARITY LIVE SCORING LEADERBOARD SHOT TRACKER TOURNAMENTS PLAYERS FEDEXCUP VIDEO NEWS STATS FANTASY SHOP Holmes ready for first TOUR start after brain surgery text size Increase Text Size Decrease Text Size Email This Story Print This Story RSS Interview: J.B. Holmes Holmes discusses his brain surgery and how he feels before his return at the Farmers Insurance Open. Jan. 25, 2012 By Helen Ross, PGATOUR.COM Chief of Correspondents LA JOLLA, Calif. -- In terms of difficulty, the doctor said the operation was a 1 on a scale of 10. Still, it was brain surgery, and J.B. Holmes had every right to be nervous. Would the bouts of vertigo stop? Would the pounding in his head go away? And on a purely practical level, would the two-time PGA TOUR champ still be able to launch the ball in excess of 300 yards? Helen_Column.jpg FARMERS TOUR Report Transcript: Holmes Interview: Holmes Expert Picks Sleeper Picks By the Numbers Power Rankings Round 1 Tee Times LIVE@ Farmers There was only one way to find out. Holmes had been diagnosed with Chiari malformation, which is a neurologial condition where the skull is either too small or misshapen and it starts to press on the brain tissue, pushing it down on the spinal canal and interfering with the normal flow of cerebrospinal fluid. That in turn can cause dizziness, headaches and problems with balance and coordination. So on Sept. 1, Holmes let the surgeon take out a piece of his skull about three-quarters the size of a golf ball to relieve the pressure on the cerebellum. The covering of the brain was then opened and a patch -- in Holmes' case, made of a titanium mesh -- sewn in to provide more room for the brain. "I just kept it out of my mind, basically until the day of (the operation)," he said. "Then I got to the hospital and started putting on the gown and everything else, and it was like, wow, I'm about to have brain surgery. So it really hits you then. "But you've just got to put your faith in God and just hope everything comes out good." So far, it has. His brown hair has grown back and you can hardly see the scar now. Holmes keeps the missing piece of skull sitting on the sill of a window in a closet in his house in Orlando where he sees it every day. He grew it, he figures he should keep it. "It's just a reminder that I'm very fortunate to be able to go through something like that and be able to come back and play," Holmes said. "(I am) just very fortunate to have this job and be able to play a game for a living. ... I never really thought I wasn't going to come back, but there is always a possibility that everything doesn't go right and I don't get back out here. "So (I am) just learning to appreciate the situation I'm in a little bit more and just enjoy it." Holmes plans to do just that this week at the Farmers Insurance Open. It's his first tournament since the surgery and lengthy recovery, much of which he spent sitting as still as possible because he couldn't move his neck. Even now, he thinks he's only got about 85 percent rotation but it's getting better every day. He's having fun seeing old friends at Torrey Pines, and Holmes is looking forward to putting that peg in the ground when it means something on Thursday. "The first goal is to make the cut, the second goal is to win the tournament," he said. "It's always, when I come out, that's my goal. But realistic expectations, if I come out here and make the cut and just play solid, that's probably a pretty good start back." Indeed. Holmes' recovery was not without issues. He had first started having vertigo-like symptoms during last year's PLAYERS Championship, where he tied for sixth. He withdrew the following week and only played six more tournaments from May to August. He had appointments with five or six different doctors, underwent MRIs and other tests. Maybe it was an ear infection, one said. Cluster migranes suggested another. Dr. George Jallo at Johns Hopkins made the final diagnosis. He told Holmes not to worry; he'd done about 250 or 300 of the same operations. And Holmes didn't, not after the doctor rated it 1 out of 10. "I just assumed that was like me making contact with a golf ball, and I have't missed it too many times," he said matter-of-factly. Roughly a month after the surgery, though, Holmes started getting fluid around the scar. Turns out he was allergic to the adhesive the doctors used to attach the titanium. He was getting severe headaches as they tried to wean him off the steroids, too. One Saturday, Holmes was helping with a tournament at his golf club back Campbellsville, Ky., and he felt so bad he went home to lay down. By dinnertime, he was vomiting, and the next thing he knew, he was at the emergency room -- and then airlifted on Sunday to Johns Hopkins where he would have a second operation on his brain. "They had me on so much painkillers I didn't remember much," Holmes recalled. "I started out in Campbellsville and woke up in Baltimore. So I remember vaguely getting on the plane and getting off. I woke up and just kind of looked around, and a head nurse came in. I said do I have a cell phone, clothes, anything? And she's like, nope. And I was like, okay." Holmes remembers waking up on Monday, ready to watch football and check how his fantasy team was doing. His parents told him he was a day late. "I was like, I missed Sunday?" he recalled with a smile. At the same time, Holmes knows how frightening things must have been for his family and his girlfriend, Erica Kalbhin, who is a nurse just like his mother was. "I'm on medicine and not remembering anything; they're really going through it and worrying," Holmes said. "The second surgery when I was sick and went to the E.R. and things -- that scared everybody pretty good. Like I said, I don't even remember that day, so it wasn't as bad for me as it was for them." Holmes didn't get the go-ahead to hit his driver until last month. The first one he struck on Dec. 1 went 240 yards -- or about 80 yards less than he averaged in 2011. His instructor said his swing looked fine "so my body didn't forget what it's been learning for the last 28 years," Holmes said. His clubhead speed is about 115 right now, about five less than his average last year. Holmes was happy to report, though, that he's not giving up the same kind of distance he was in early December anymore. He can now bust a driver more than 300 yards again which is "far enough to get out here and play," Holmes said. He needed every bit of it, too, as he played a practice round with Bubba Watson on Tuesday. "It's great to see any fellow golfer, anybody you work with come back from an injury, any kind of injury," Watson said before the two teed off. "But something like that ... I mean, brain surgery is not easy. That's something that is serious. That could be career-ending. "But him coming back, who knows how he'll hit it. Who cares if he misses the cut, makes the cut, if he wins, it's just good to see him back out here. I bet he's going to be happy to be here and be out of his house." Holmes agreed. He's ready to move forward and get back to what he does best. "The surgery feels like it was so long ago that I had already forgotten about some of it," he said. "... I'm past that. I'm ready to start a new chapter.

He's having fun seeing old friends at Torrey Pines, and Holmes is looking forward to putting that peg in the ground when it means something on Thursday.

"The first goal is to make the cut, the second goal is to win the tournament," he said. "It's always, when I come out, that's my goal. But realistic expectations, if I come out here and make the cut and just play solid, that's probably a pretty good start back."

Indeed. Holmes' recovery was not without issues. He had first started having vertigo-like symptoms during last year's PLAYERS Championship, where he tied for sixth. He withdrew the following week and only played six more tournaments from May to August. He had appointments with five or six different doctors, underwent MRIs and other tests.

Maybe it was an ear infection, one said. Cluster migranes suggested another. Dr. George Jallo at Johns Hopkins made the final diagnosis. He told Holmes not to worry; he'd done about 250 or 300 of the same operations. And Holmes didn't, not after the doctor rated it 1 out of 10.

"I just assumed that was like me making contact with a golf ball, and I have't missed it too many times," he said matter-of-factly.

Roughly a month after the surgery, though, Holmes started getting fluid around the scar. Turns out he was allergic to the adhesive the doctors used to attach the titanium. He was getting severe headaches as they tried to wean him off the steroids, too.

One Saturday, Holmes was helping with a tournament at his golf club back Campbellsville, Ky., and he felt so bad he went home to lay down. By dinnertime, he was vomiting, and the next thing he knew, he was at the emergency room -- and then airlifted on Sunday to Johns Hopkins where he would have a second operation on his brain.

"They had me on so much painkillers I didn't remember much," Holmes recalled. "I started out in Campbellsville and woke up in Baltimore. So I remember vaguely getting on the plane and getting off. I woke up and just kind of looked around, and a head nurse came in. I said do I have a cell phone, clothes, anything? And she's like, nope. And I was like, okay."

Holmes remembers waking up on Monday, ready to watch football and check how his fantasy team was doing. His parents told him he was a day late. "I was like, I missed Sunday?" he recalled with a smile. At the same time, Holmes knows how frightening things must have been for his family and his girlfriend, Erica Kalbhin, who is a nurse just like his mother was.

"I'm on medicine and not remembering anything; they're really going through it and worrying," Holmes said. "The second surgery when I was sick and went to the E.R. and things -- that scared everybody pretty good. Like I said, I don't even remember that day, so it wasn't as bad for me as it was for them."

Holmes didn't get the go-ahead to hit his driver until last month. The first one he struck on Dec. 1 went 240 yards -- or about 80 yards less than he averaged in 2011. His instructor said his swing looked fine "so my body didn't forget what it's been learning for the last 28 years," Holmes said. His clubhead speed is about 115 right now, about five less than his average last year.

Holmes was happy to report, though, that he's not giving up the same kind of distance he was in early December anymore. He can now bust a driver more than 300 yards again which is "far enough to get out here and play," Holmes said. He needed every bit of it, too, as he played a practice round with Bubba Watson on Tuesday.

"It's great to see any fellow golfer, anybody you work with come back from an injury, any kind of injury," Watson said before the two teed off. "But something like that ... I mean, brain surgery is not easy. That's something that is serious. That could be career-ending.

"But him coming back, who knows how he'll hit it. Who cares if he misses the cut, makes the cut, if he wins, it's just good to see him back out here. I bet he's going to be happy to be here and be out of his house."

Holmes agreed. He's ready to move forward and get back to what he does best.

"The surgery feels like it was so long ago that I had already forgotten about some of it," he said. "... I'm past that. I'm ready to start a new chapter.

information by www.pgatour.com

The Belfry 4*

UK & Ireland > England > West Midlands >

The Belfry 4* Venue Information

Brabazon Course
The Brabazon Course is steeped in Ryder Cup history, having welcomed the European and American teams on no less than four occasions. Who could forget Sam Torrance's 18^th hole heroics in 1985, or the jubilant Paul McGinley sinking the winning putt in 2002? These famous moments are what make the Brabazon so special, and should inspire every golfer to visit and experience that legacy. The course is also a regular stop for the European Tour's best, with the Quinn Insurance British Masters to be held again in late September 2008. This regular tournament golf ensures that the course is in fine condition throughout the year.

PGA National Course
The PGA National Course opened for business in 1997 to strengthen the Belfry's golfing resort and ease the traffic over the famous Brabazon. Since then the PGA has established a superb reputation of its own, hosting the Seniors European Open Tournament. The main feature of the course is the tremendous bunkering, designed to protect the large, undulating greens. Playing the first and last holes, you will be under the watchful gaze of those in the clubhouse, adding considerable pressure.

Derby Course
The Derby Course is the perfect complement to the Belfry's feature tracks, whose par-69 layout is an enjoyable challenge for golfers of all standards. The best hole is the 5^th, where golfers must drive over the majestic oak that marks the middle of the fairway.

The Belfry's superb golfing complex is home to the headquarters of the PGA of Great Britain and Ireland, the PGA of Europe and the PGA National Training Academy

Jose Maria Olazabal (Getty Images)

José Maria Olazábal kick-started Ryder Cup year by revealing that he would announce his two Captain’s picks on the Monday following the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles.

Olazábal will announce his two picks on August 27 at The Gleneagles Hotel to complete the 12-man European Ryder Cup team who will travel to Medinah Country Club, Chicago, Illinois, USA, to defend the trophy against the United States from September 28-30.

When Colin Montgomerie announced his wild cards shortly after the dramatic conclusion to the 2010 Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles, some players under consideration - notably Luke Donald, Padraig Harrington, Paul Casey and Justin Rose - were competing in America. Donald and Harrington received the news they were in the team while Casey and Rose missed out.

Olazábal, speaking at his first official Ryder Cup conference of the year, ahead of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Champions, said: “I talked about it with George O’Grady and with the team, and I think the scenario last time was a delicate one, obviously for the captain and also for the players playing in the States.

“We have made the decision regarding that, and the announcement is going to be the Monday following Gleneagles.  So we are going to wait until whatever happens in the States before we make the decision.

“Looking at it when it happened, it was not a comfortable situation for anybody.  Anyone playing in the States, who might be on the verge of winning that tournament and changing his chances of being in the team - it would be completely unfair to name those two picks before the guy even tees off.

“When you get close to making the final decision on who is going to be on the team and just three weeks from The Ryder Cup, I would like to have an eye on the players who are hot at that time. So if the guy is on the verge of winning and wins that tournament, it means that he's on top of his game.  So it would be a good idea to have a thought about him.”

Olazábal was unveiled as European Captain for the 2012 match exactly 12 months ago and is relishing the role as the biennial encounter draws ever closer.

“It's one year since I was named Captain of The Ryder Cup for 2012,” he said. “Time flies, especially when you get a little bit older, it seems to fly a little bit quicker.  I'm just happy to be here.  There is only eight months to go for The Ryder Cup.
 
“We do have the team just shaping up a little bit, even though it's still early days.  There are big and huge tournaments ahead of us, and obviously things might change quite a bit from today.  But at least there are some players that are doing their homework and are ahead of the rest.

information by www.europeantour.com

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) -- Tiger Woods says he's starting a season healthy for the first time in at least eight years.

"It's been quite a few years since I've been physically fit," Woods said on Tuesday in his first appearance at the Abu Dhabi Championship.

"So I'm looking forward to getting out there and giving it a full season, which I haven't done in a while."

Woods' confidence got a boost when he ended 2011 by winning his Chevron World Challenge in December for his first title in more than two years.

He's hoping to pick up where he left off against a tough field that includes top-ranked Luke Donald, second-ranked Lee Westwood, defending champion Martin Kaymer and U.S. Open champion Rory McIlroy.

"I'm looking forward to this year," Woods said. "That's something that I have to say, because I was able to prepare and get fit enough to prepare last year and towards the end of the year. I demonstrated to myself what I can do with implementing what (coach Sean Foley) wants me to do on the golf swing."

Woods took part in traditional Emirati ayala dancing earlier in the day with Westwood and McIlroy, and was in good spirits for most of the news conference. But he appeared slightly agitated when the questions turned to a book written by Hank Haney, his swing coach for six years.

The book, due out in March, chronicles the time Haney began working with Woods at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in 2004 until they parted a month after the 2010 Masters, where Woods made his return to golf after being exposed for multiple extramarital affairs that shattered his image and led to divorce.

Woods said he was unhappy that those he had worked with, including Haney and former caddie Steve Williams, had spoken out.

"Certainly it's something that I have to deal with. I get asked at press conferences what these guys have done, and that's just part of it," he said. "Am I disappointed? Yes. Frustrated? Certainly, because I have to answer the questions. ... So I've answered them and I guess I'll have to continue doing it. Hopefully, this will come to an end."

After missing much of 2011 with injuries, Woods said he finally was "healthy enough to practice" toward the end of last season and it paid off.

He finished third at the Australian Open, and then delivered the clinching point for the American team in the Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne before winning the Chevron World Challenge. With the win, Woods moved up to 25th in the Official World Golf Ranking after falling outside the top 50 last year.

"I think Australia was pretty big for me to go down there for two weeks and play in that type of wind, and to hit the ball as well as I did, I really controlled my golf ball for two weeks, and you know, I think that led to what I did at the World Challenge," Woods said. "I hit the ball just as well there, and made a couple of putts, and especially on the last two holes there. You know, consequently, got a W."

The 14-time major winner would only say his goal this year was to win more than he had last year, and was hopeful one of those victories would be another major. He is four short of Jack Nicklaus' record.

Woods has switched his season-opener from San Diego to Abu Dhabi this year and acknowledged his scheduling decisions are influenced by the appearances fees he's offered. Woods refused to say how much he was getting at Abu Dhabi, but unlike the PGA TOUR, the European Tour allows for appearance fees which can reach into the millions of dollars.

"You know, I'd have to say yes, it certainly does," he said on the influence of appearance fees. "That's one of the reasons why a lot of the guys who play in Europe, they do play in Europe, and they do get paid. I think the only tour that doesn't pay is the U.S. TOUR. But, you know, a lot of the guys play all around the world and they do get appearance fees."

Woods praised Donald, calling his winning the money titles on the PGA TOUR and European Tour last season a "heck of an achievement." But he saved his highest praise for the great Seve Ballesteros, who died in May following a three-year battle with a brain tumor.

Woods said the five-time major winner was the most talented golfer he ever played alongside.

"Never seen a person do the things with the golf ball that he was able to do and the creativeness that he was able to do," Woods said. "To me, he certainly had the most talent that I had ever seen in person. I never saw (Ben) Hogan hit a golf ball. Never saw (Byron) Nelson hit a golf ball. I never saw Jack in his prime. But I did see Seve when I first came out here, and I was able to play with him a few times; it was impressive."

information by www.pgatour.com

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) -- Ryder Cup captain Jose Maria Olazabal will announce his Europe team on Aug. 27, a move he said Tuesday will ensure players don't learn their fate while playing the final day of The Barclays tournament.

Paul Casey came to symbolize the hazards of the selection process in 2010 when he learned that Europe captain Colin Montgomerie had not picked him as he played the seventh hole of The Barclays. Afterward, Casey admitted the fact his playing partner Padraig Harrington was chosen made it difficult to concentrate.

The announcement will be made at Gleneagles in Scotland, which hosts the Johnny Walker Championship.

Olazabal said Monday ahead of this week's Abu Dhabi Championship the timing of the selection gives him a chance to see how players perform at The Barclays.

"Looking at it when it happened, as I said, it was not a comfortable situation for anybody," Olazabal said of the 2010 selection process. "I think it would be fair for anybody that is playing in the States, that might be on the verge of winning that tournament, and making a change on his possibilities of being in the team. It would be completely unfair to name those two picks before the guy even tees off."

The 45-year-old Olazabal, whose impressive Ryder Cup record includes 18 wins and five halves in 31 matches, said he has yet to choose a vice captain adding "it was too early."

Olazabal said he would not reconsider his earlier decision to choose only two wild cards for the team, down from the three that Montgomery had chosen. He has said that he wants players to play for the top spots, rather than counting on a wild card.

"I'm not going to take any second thoughts on that. I'm going to sleep really, really well with that decision," Olazabal said.

"I think, as I said it last year, for anybody to be in those top 10 spots, they will have to play really well during the season from September to September," he said. "So I think those guys deserve to be in the team, if they are in those top 10 spots. And I think two picks is good enough in the sense that you might have a scenario like we have at the moment with Paul Casey being injured, not being able to play."

Olazabal has struggled with a bad back and hasn't won in seven years. But the 596th-ranked Spaniard briefly held the lead after three rounds of the Volvo Golf Champions last weekend, prompting questions about whether he might just play at the Ryder Cup.

"I made it clear, I made it clear to everyone, and I want to make it clear to the team," Olazabal said. "Even if skies fall on me and I manage to play well and win a lot of tournaments and make the team, I am not playing in it, period."

Europe has won six of the last eight Ryder Cups, including the dramatic finish in Wales two years ago. The Ryder Cup was decided by the final singles match for the first time since 1991 after the Americans rallied from a three-point deficit on the last day.

The tournament will be played Sept. 25-30 at the Medinah Country Club. Medinah has hosted three U.S. Opens (1949, 1975 and 1990) along with two PGA Championships (1999 and 2006). It also hosted the 1988 U.S. Senior Open.

information by www.pgatour.com

GEORGE, South Africa (AP) -- Nicolas Colsaerts of Belgium opened with a course record 9-under-par 64 to lead the first round of the Volvo Golf Champions at The Links at Fancourt on Thursday.

Colsaerts has a four-stroke lead over South Africa's Branden Grace and Thomas Aiken, and England's Tom Lewis.

The previous course record was 68 set by Tim Clark and Ross Fisher in the first round of the 2005 South African Open.

"I'm very happy. Having a course record on a course like this is obviously a pretty big thing," Colsaerts said. "You hear about this place, being ranked No. 1 in South Africa, it's quite special."

Known as one of the longest drivers on Tour, Colsaert's iron play and putting drew attention instead on Thursday.

He rolled in the longest putt of his round when he holed a 12-footer for birdie on the second.

"Then every birdie just seemed from pretty close range. I holed every chance I had," he said.

He birdied nine of 11 holes from the eighth.

"I kept hitting the irons very, very close to the flag. You know, once you hit three or four in a row you feel you can kind of hole from the fairway pretty much," he said.

His only bogey came at the par-4 sixth with a three-putt. But it was a round that clearly stood out for him.

"This is probably one of the best, if not the best. On a course like this, even if we don't play it at the very back, it's quite a serious test of golf. This is probably the best round I've ever had."

Padraig Harrington showed glimpses of a return to form with his 4-under 69, despite a double-bogey 7 at the last.

Rory McIlroy watches his tee shot on the tenth hole during the final round of the 2011 US Open (EuropeanTour)

Rory McIlroy’s sublime six iron to the tenth green during the final round of the US Open Championship has been voted by golf fans as The 2011 European Tour Shot of the Year.

The Northern Irishman, who won his first Major Championship on that glorious Sunday afternoon at Congressional Country Club, dominated The European Tour Shot of the Month competitions in 2011, winning three monthly awards (June, July and December) out of 12.

But it was that near-perfect, towering six iron from 216 yards on the par three tenth hole at Congressional which came to rest just a few inches from the hole that fans from My European Tour judged to be the outstanding shot of the 2011 season.

“I thought that shot was probably the most important in the round because YE Yang had just stuck it in there close, so to follow that shot up with mine was pretty cool,” said McIlroy.

“I had a big lead at that stage but there was always the chance that if I had hit it in the water or done something silly and YE had made his birdie then it would have put a bit of pressure on me.

“As it turned out the six iron I hit in there worked out perfectly and I could afford to relax a bit on the back nine and try to take in as much of the experience of winning my first Major as I could.

“By the time I reached the turn that Sunday, the amount of people surrounding that clubhouse area with the tenth tee box and green was just unbelievable.  There was such a buzz around the place.  When I stuck my six iron that close, and the roar that followed, it’s a feeling I will never forget.

“Obviously I am delighted that shot has been voted The 2011 European Tour Shot of the Year – it is always special to win an award voted for by the general public and hopefully I can produce a few more of those in 2012!”

With 30 per cent of the vote, McIlroy was the overwhelming winner of the Shot of the Year, with Miguel Angel Jiménez acquiring 21 per cent of the vote to take second place for his fearless second shot into the infamous par five 17th at Valderrama in the Andalucía Masters in October, a 250-yard five wood that left the Spaniard with only a ten-foot putt for eagle.

McIlroy also took third place (with 12 per cent of the vote) for his December effort – that majestic bunker shot on the 72nd hole of the UBS Hong Kong Open that found the bottom of the cup and secured the 22 year old his third European Tour career victory. 

One of the lucky entrants who voted in the Shot of the Year competition on europeantour.com has won the sensational prize of a golf break for two people to two European Tour Destinations from the European Tour Properties Network portfolio, the London Golf Club and Le Golf National on the outskirts of Paris.

The London Golf Club – host of the European Open from 2008-2009 – became the first European Tour Destination in the European Tour Properties portfolio in 2009, while Le Golf National has not only hosted the French Open 17 times, but will also welcome The Ryder Cup in 2018.

The European Tour Shot of the Month Award is presented to the Tour Member for the shot judged by fans of My European Tour to be the most outstanding played during each calendar month on The European Tour International Schedule. The winning shots from each month are entered into The European Tour Shot of the Year Award.

information supplied by www.europeantour.com

 Vegas seeks the right putting solution

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Dunn/Getty Images

Jhonattan Vegas runs up to the 18th green on the final day of the Humana Challenge in 2011. He would eventually defeat Gary Woodland in a playoff for his first PGA TOUR title.

Jhonattan Vegas made a clutch putt to win the Humana Challenge last year, and he hasn't made many since. The PGA TOUR rookie followed up his victory with a near-win the next week in the Farmers Insurance Open, but he then went into a prolonged slump.

 

Vegas says one of his problems is his body type -- It seems Vegas has the wing span of a pterodactyl.

That's both good and bad in golf.

Vegas, who is 6-foot-2, has unusually long arms. He guessed his shirt sleeve length at somewhere around 38 inches. That wing span of almost 100 inches creates a very wide swing plane, creating a lot of clubhead speed that enables Vegas to routinely swat 300 yard drives.

It can also create putting problems.

"I want to get my arms extended their full length and want them to naturally hang when I address the ball," said Vegas.

Golf instructors refer to this as "keeping the triangle together." The triangle being formed by the forearms and shoulder blades.

"Last year, I was putting with a shaft between 35 and 35 and a half inches and it still wasn't right," said Vegas. I thought I should try 36 inches, but instead, I am now at 34."

Like so many things in the golf swing, the opposite is true. We hit down to make the ball go up, we swing out to the right to make the ball curve left and to extend the arms while putting the shaft should be shorter not longer.

Vegas is a bend-at-the-waist putter and a longer shaft did not allow his 38-inch arms to fully extend. With a 34-inch shaft, Vegas arms hang naturally from his side, allowing them to extend throughout the putting stroke which should result in a better roll.

How did Vegas discover the proper length shaft for him?

"Man, I spent so many hours trying different things on the putting green. I think this is right."

It may be right but it is still a work in progress. He ranks 115th in Strokes-Gained Putting for the first two weeks in Hawaii.

"Those greens in Hawaii still kicked me," laughed Vegas.

With those words of wisdom, Vegas returned to rolling putt after putt toward the cup in the heat of the afternoon sun.

JUST DUCKY: SiriusXM PGA TOUR Radio announcer Dennis Paulson is a popular man this week. Dennis belongs to a shooting club not far from La Quinta, and duck season is still open. Several PGA TOUR players are avid hunters and Paulson had not problem putting together a group. It took David Toms less than two seconds to accept an invitation.

GOING LOW: Look for players to be aggressive at both the Palmer Private Course and Nicklaus Private Course at PGA West. In 2011, the Palmer Course played to an average of 69.09, the Nicklaus course averaged 69.21. That ranks as the second and third easiest courses on TOUR last season. Players try to post a reasonable score at La Quinta Country Club, 70.02 scoring average, then go deep at PGA West.

AND THE WINNER IS: Brian Gay. I like a longshot this week. Gay has three top-20 finishes at the Humana Challenge over the last three years, including a tie for fifth last year. The courses play into the strengths of his game, Gay is not overly long, but length is not needed this week. You have to keep the ball in play and hit greens.

Gay does both of those very well. I also saw something in his game last week at the Sony Open. Gay is third in scoring average this year and scrambles well -- he was 6-for-6 in bunker saves at the Sony Open. He tied for sixth last week and I think Gay is ready to score a win this week.

information from www.pgatour.com

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