My Blog

So at last Captain Monty has made his wild card picks, what a traumatic last few days he must have have. The dilemma of who to leave out ‘ for the good of the team’! I watched the final few holes from Gleneagles and the finish was breathtaking, younger brother Edoardo nicking it from older brother and Brett Rumford with 3 birdies in the last 3 holes..incredible stuff. The Molinari brothers this evening the toast of Italy!

And so it came to Monty’s moment, was he going to pick Padraig, Paul & Luke…well they were my choices, with the former the least in form, so was Rose going to get the ‘nod’. And then the Captain went and surprised us all, or most of us anyhow and left out the world number 9, Paul Casey! A former world match play champ, runner up to Poulter in the WGC event in March, has Monty really lost the plot? Or, is it a brave move for the sake of team partnerships?

I am really chuffed Edoardo has made it, chuffed for the Europeaness of the side if that makes any sense. 2 years ago this guy was making it through the ranks on the Challenge Tour, now a multi winner and world cup winner alongside his brother last November- that’s why in my opinion he got the nod, and of course he is bang in form and looks as if he genuinely  enjoys his golf.  Colin Byrne was on his bag I noticed, one of the best and most experienced caddies on tour, and bagman for many years to Retief Goosen. A fine correspondent too for the Irish Times, in fact wrote a book called ‘bagman’ of his time on tour and in winning 2 US Opens with the ‘Goose’.

Anyhow really strong Ryder Cup team, who probably go in as favourites at Celtic Manor – now is that a good thing….

All go for the TP Masters at Woburn for me this coming week, a far cry from the Ryder Cup but a great event at one of my favourite courses in the UK, keep your finger crossed! Cheers

The Torrance  course at The Fairmont St Andrews hotel was the host for this years Senior Scottish Open, sponsored by Cleveland Golf/Srixon.

With my 14 yr old son Matt making his debut ‘on the bag’, this was an exciting tournament  for us having not competed since the Open PQ 4 weeks ago. The course is superb and in fab condition, although we had a very testing wind each day none more so than the final day. Anyhow a score of level par 72 was a good start, though poor after dropping 2 shots to par over the last 3 holes. A  74 in round 2 was good after a dodgy spell in mid round, and in a share for 14th spot.

Day 3 was especially tough, the wind so strong the ball was being oscillated on the greens and the odd one moved by it! Putting was the hardest of all, the greens there are tough enough without being buffeted and blown off balance mid stroke! Anyhow a 4 over 76, sounds poor but in fact moved up to tied 13th, not too bad as I was going in with low expectations. A new Cleveland driver worked well, a little less spin into the wind AND I used the new Srixon Z Star yellow ball! Shock horror, Tom has disowned me! I can now see the ball through the air and finish, a revelation.

Talking of Tom , he is still in USA with Sophie who is making remarkable progress and it seems is in incredible spirits. The rehab-centre is next for her on her road to coping with life in a wheelchair…god bless her! She and my daughter will be looking out for their GCSE results tomorrow too, gosh I feel old now!

Have fun, AM

My last post was reference to life and Sophie, and how fragile we all are. It’s true even whilst driving up and down the motorways in our cocooned luxury. Tom is going to the States to see her, he is a broken lad just now for those who know him, after learning she will be wheel chair bound for life. My heart just bleeds for him too we are all in total shock, she is so very special to him. Her Dad is a very close pal of mine too, one who I traveled all over the world with whilst playing on the tour.

Life I suppose, has to go on of course and as I prepare for the Scottish Open next week at the St Andrews Bay it seems futile to say the least. Last week I attended a memorial day for a colleague from Cleveland Golf. I am not sure whether it’s my age , but we have to live for moment don’t we! In the auction for Paul at Bearwood lakes, I acquired a huge poster of Greg Norman, he has signed it, dated it and added ‘Attack Life’. That’s my new inspiration.

And then there’s the US PGA, will Tiger make the Ryder Cup and who from Europe may make a surge for our team in Wales later this year? What a circus it all creates! Can Woods shoot 63 and have a chance of winning? Will Rory win for Ireland, and will Woods get Captain Pavin’s wild card? An intriguing final day on BBC 5 Live of course!

St Andrews for me next week with son Matt making his debut ‘on the bag’, but much more important stuff going on with Tom, Deb and Sophie in the rehab unit in Cincinnati. x

St Andrews and Archerfield Links was fantastic, great weather, company etc.

But then some shocking news whilst we were there put golf, poor shots and the recession into perspective. A  very close  friend of Tom’s visiting family in the States was involved in a horrendous car accident, we are all devastated of course . Having undergone 2 major op’s in 48hrs, she is fighting on, such a delightful girl full of fun and I know all that know Tom will just say a prayer for her , whether you believe or not!

On a more upbeat note, Archerfield is definitely worth a visit or more, a magnificent set up and supreme hospitality, as is The Bay & The Dukes. This was my brother’s first trip to the ‘home of golf’ and he enjoyed it immensely and learnt lots from us I hope.

Tom is playing some great golf and is determined to play in this weeks Jamega Tour event in the south and win it for Soph.

Enjoy your golf, enjoy your life…go for it!

Cheers Andrew

A week at home practicing, teaching and chilling, so next, a 3 day ‘jolly’ to the home of golf. With my sons Tom and Matt and brother Ian we have a 3 day trip planned to take in the links of The Dukes , Fairmont and Archerfield. All terrific courses and so different from each other too. The Dukes was designed by the legendary Peter Thomson a 5 times Open champion. Up high above the old grey town and a parkland course. Fairmont by Sam Torrance, a links style with breathtaking views right on the headland 3 miles out of town and a course that Matt is ‘on the bag’ for his debut at this years  Srixon Scottish Senior Open in mid August, and finally Archerfield Links, near Muirfield, a new course set up by the Senior Tour PGA Champion DJ Russell. Another majestic setting overlooking the Forth in rolling land that boasts 2 courses. One  tree lined, the other a links. My brother is a keen 15 handicapper, and it will his first time up at St Andrews, I can’t wait to take him. We are all really looking forward to the banter and the courses…so long as the old guys win that is!

A lesson from my other golf doctor Peter Barber today has helped my game still further, so another few practice sessions to get in better shape over the week end.

My inspiration this evening came from Herr Langer, in the US Senior Open, coming a week after his victory at Carnoustie he is right there again with another of my heroes Fred Couples. Talk about contrasting styles of play! I can’t wait to see the final round of that one.

enjoy your game y’all!

Andrew

Wednesday a really productive day for me, the new Cleveland irons built for me at The Open made an appearance. A slightly heavier shaft than of   late seems to give me a tad more feel, the black heads also look great! It’s amazing after all this time I still get excited about new clubs.

Anyhow, together with a lesson from Adrian Fryer I feel that my game is back on track. Just 1o minutes with the ‘doc’ was all it needed to point out some flaws in my posture and swing plane. Nothing new at all, just my age old tendency to ‘lay the club off at the top’. Just the impetus I needed though to get practicing hard  and get some pleasure out of hitting proper shots again…so watch out I’m back!

enjoy your golf over the week end!

Andrew

A bitterly disappointing day for me at the Senior Open qualifier at the glorious Panmure Links near Carnoustie. A 77 and 4 shots off the play off to compete at surely the toughest of all Open venues- Carnoustie. In truth, I was not in it most of the round after a poor, nervy start. 3 over after 5 was not the best although I did ‘dig in’ and give myself a chance with 4 to play.  but in pressing for birdies, I conspired to make a horlicks of them! A difficult day all told with driving rain for most of the afternoon starters, and as I was last out we got the worst of it. No excuse though as in my normal game mode I would make it easily, it’s just at the moment my ‘stock ‘shot norm has left me floundering a little. Form is temporary, class is permanent is what I keep telling myself!! So, a week off when I least wanted nor expected it, at least now I can seek coach Fryer for the half hour it will take[ or less] to sort me out…so to speak!

I am coaching this week and next if required….cheers Andrew

As part of BBC Radio 5 Live ‘s commentary team, I am in an incredibly privileged position to be view The Open from inside the ropes. On the 3rd round this last week Alistair Bruce Ball a regular 5 Live football commentator and myself were allocated by our producer the final game. Former Open Champ Calcavecchia from the US and an up and coming 27 yr old Louis Oosthiuzen from Mosel Bay South Africa. After witnessing at very close quarters the power, control and balance of Louis all day it was clear to ABB & I that we had witnessed something very special, a 3rd round 69 in a tough wind his lead was now 4 shots. Could he hang on ? This unknown player to those outside the European & SA Tour, we knew the answer…most definitely is what I responded to the doubters in our ‘com box’ situated over the 18th green! And did he! What a player, what an Open, what a course! It really did show all it’s nuances this last 4 days, we had rain of the horizontal variety, calm, and the bright breezy high clouds and spectacular skies of the week end.

In the end Louis beat the best, Tiger faded after  a good start for his new putter, Lee Westwood played fantastic golf and could not ‘buy’ a putt and still finished 2nd, and Paul Casey stuttered over the closing 9.

Tom Watson made an emotional farewell to Open golf here too, he missed the cut in the gloom of Friday after the weather delay.

A truly great Open, and for me now its off the the Senior Open qualifier , I need a top 8 to make it at Panmure at 12.50pm,

cheers

The Pro Am was yet again a great success , blessed with superb weather the course was a picture. Stu the green keeper had it really good, stripped fairways, whitened hole cups, ironed greens..it was great. And the scoring reflected it too, leading Pro was -8 , 63 Graham Cox, with several others close too, Dan Wardrop 65, Pete Barber 67, the host 68 [ with a shocker of a finish!] Team score was my Irish sponsor Declan and teenage boys, the 1st time they had played an event together, they had 90 points and won on a count back. Great stuff, mind you they did have one Graham Cox as their Pro!

The whole object of the day though was to raise funds for the various causes, Genesis & The Together Trust, this, we all did and had fun doing so too. None more it has to be said, than the crowd that watched Jeremy Dale’s golf show, an amazing show that had us all spellbound, big thanks to him for all his efforts too!

Lymm Golf Club did us proud, and thanks to Karen, Stu & The Captain for hosting our event again. it’s off to St Andrews now for me with the 5 live team, I can’t wait to hear what our interview man Rob Nothman asks Tiger Woods!

cheers A