Adam Scott with The Presidents Cup trophy

Wondering where Adam Scott was this weekend?

Adam Scott is sponsored by Rolex. They also sponsor the Australian Open Tennis and The Presidents Cup and they were all put together, along with some nice white gloves last week at the Australian Open Tennis in Melbourne.

There are a lot of people who like seeing Adam Scott in any photograph. I'm guessing he didn't catch up with ex-girlfriend Ana Ivanovic while at the tennis, as she was well and truly out of the tournament by then, losing he round one match.

I'm loving the build up to the Presidents Cup already. It is only 10 months away.

Matt Kamienski, Executive Director of The Presidents Cup (with The Presidents Cup); Adam Scott (with the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup - the men's Australian Open trophy) and Patrick Boutellier, Managing Director Rolex Australia (with the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup - the women's Australian Open trophy)

Relates Stories
Who are Australia's best golfers right now?
100 holes of golf with Adam Scott

Wanna play golf in North Korea?

Ever wanted to play golf in North Korea?

The inaugural North Korean Amateur Golf Open has been announced and is open to anyone with a handicap! The tournament will take place between 26th-30th April 2011.

The entry fee of €999 (£849) will get you visas, entry to the tournament, return train travel from China into North Korea, all meals, four nights 5 star hotel accommodation and a 3 day tour of the country.

Not surprisingly the event is being held at Pyongyang Golf complex - North Korea's only golf course. The same one where Kim Jong Il shot a world record 38 under par on his first ever round of golf. The round included 11 hole-in-ones!

Ok. I have my doubts but the tournament appears legitimate anyway.

H/T The Waggle Room

The problem with Padraig

Padraig Harrington gets DQ'd thanks to eagle-eye TV viewer

The evil golf television viewer bared it's teeth last week which saw Padraig Harrington disqualified from the European Tour event in Abu Dhabi. It was the second time this year a professional golfer was disqualified from a tournament following on from Camilo Villegas' disqualification from the PGA Tour event in Hawaii a few weeks earlier.

Firstly, here is what happened. While marking his ball, Padraig inadvertently knocks it and it rolls all but a dimple or two to a different position which is easily seen in the slow motion video below. He did not replace the ball to its original position which would incur a two stroke penalty according to Rule 20-7(ii).

"I looked down and was pretty sure it had just oscillated and had not moved, so I continued on," said Harrington.

When a TV viewer noticed it may be in breach of the rule it was phoned in after Harrington had already signed his card. As Harrington had not replaced the ball, or incurred the two-shot penalty, the only option left was to disqualify him for signing an incorrect scorecard.

Should TV viewers be allowed to intervene?

The biggest talking point to come out of this was how the ruling was brought to the attention of tournament organisers and whether or not the penalty was too harsh.

I'm inclined to think both are fine. This rule is one that I see breached many times by weekend golfers and it is good this has been highlighted. Secondly, in a world where golf is looking to stake a place in the TV sports world, I don't have a problem with viewers keeping a close eye on the professionals and making sure they are earning their millions legitimately.

Crazy mini golf shot, from the water

Now and again we come across a just plain crazy 'golf' video. And now and again, we publish them here at Aussie Golfer. Just for laughs.

More crazy 'golf' videos

Shark living on golf course lake

Amazing golf swing

Clay pigeon golf shot

Playing over the trees

Who are Australia's best golfers right now?

Happy Australia Day!

On Australia's national holiday I thought it was appropriate we look at the best Australian golfers right now (Official World Golf Ranking) and see who is a chance to make the International Team at the Presidents Cup in Melbourne this year. The top 10 golfers qualify automatically for a Presidents Cup team berth. Two more are chosen by International Team captain, Greg Norman.

Rules of Golf: Casual water in a bunker

The recent rains across Australia has seen many flooded golf courses and casual water in bunkers has been an issue. But what is the ruling if you find you ball in one?

Knockout format a huge success

 Knockout matchplay format will be back again to Australian tournament golf

The Surf Coast Knockout tournament was won by Scott Laycock today after he was the last of 32 golfers left standing on the final day of a world first for professional tournament golf. 

Laycock's victory was a real battle. He only just made the Sunday action after he won a nine man playoff on Saturday for the final 32nd spot. He then defeated six players in the 6-hole format including four victories on the extra knockout hole.

“I feel like Keanu Reeves in The Matrix- dodging bullets,” said Laycock. “It’s really cool, I mean anyone in the final 32 could have won, but I just happened to be the one that pulled it off.”

A few tweaks could be made to make the format more exciting and perhaps even a little fairer.

The third round on Saturday featured 50 players, and 32 went through to the final Sunday matchplay rounds. This round seemed somewhat unnecessary and perhaps could have featured 64 players playing 18 hole matchplay to determine the final 32 players.

Peter O'Malley finished four shots ahead of everyone on Saturday afternoon. This meant little going into the Sunday matches and maybe organisers could work out some way to reward the top players from the previous three rounds. Maybe a free ride through to round 2 of the matchplay or they begin each match a hole in front?

All in all, the tournament was a huge success with the final day's action proving compelling viewing in the made for TV concept. The few problems with the tournament I mentioned are minor and the Australian PGA should be congratulated for trying something different. Let's hope the concept stays and golf organisations from around the world are taking notes.

Image courtesy of Australian PGA

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Australia launches new format golf tournament
Surf Coast Knockout: What you need to know
Surf Coast Knockout spicing up golf on TV

Greg Norman's very own Top 10 golf courses

The latest issue of Golf Vacations magazine has a great article written by Greg Norman. He is one of the world's leading golf course designers and has now completed 74 courses worldwide with another 35 projects  currently under way.

In the article he talks about his top ten favourite golf courses he has designed. I was particularly amazed at the extent of his courses. In the article are courses from Australia, Ireland, USA, Mexico and China. The three Aussie golf courses are Ellerston, The National Moonah Links and Brookwater Golf Club. 

He also rates Eastern Golf Club (Vic) and The Dunes Port Hughes (SA) as his favourites in Australia under construction. 

Check out the January issue of Golf Vacations which is out now for the full list - which includes a 36-page Presidents Cup supplement. Here's what he had to say Brookwater:

BROOKWATER GOLF CLUB (QLD, AUSTRALIA)

This site was full of tall, mature gum trees and native vegetation that we strategically used to frame the golf holes. When you play the course, you will feel as though you are on a walk through the woods and each hole is isolated from the others. The site offered a series of dramatic ridges and we routed the golf holes to take advantage of these ridges and the dramatic elevation changes. We tried to carve the holes out of these vegetation stands and into several valleys on the course. The scenery here is just fantastic.

Video: Shark living in golf course lake

We featured this video earlier in the week (8 Australian golf course you've never heard of) but it is just too incredible not to mention again.

Members of Carbrook Golf Club in Brisbane have known to stay well clear of the lake bordering holes on the back nine for a number of years now. Rumours circulated for years of a shark in the lake after the nearby Logan River burst its banks after a major flood in the 1990's but until recently, it was known as just a good story.

Irrefutable evidence 'surfaced' a few years ago when one of the club members shot a video of a shark in the lake from the banks of the 15th fairway (see videos below). Sightings have become more and more common and some members claim to have seen more than one shark at once.

Surf Coast Knockout: What you need to know

Surf Coast Knockout Live Scores

The Surf Coast Knockout is the newest event on the Australian golf calendar and it tees off on Thursday at  The Sands in Torquay with a cool new format that will make final day viewing much more interesting than most golf tournaments.

I've added the key points you'll need to know below including who is playing, all important new format and TV Times to catch the action if you can't make it to the course. If you can make it to the course in Torquay, entry is free all tournament!

Interview with designer of Lost Farm, Bill Coore

"We like to present situations where golfers choose how to play the hole, as opposed to us dictating how they are going to play it"

Bill Coore is the man behind Lost Farm Golf Course which has recently opened in Bridport, Tasmania. It is a remarkable piece of golf design and will fast become one of Australia's best golf courses.

Not only has Bill Coore done a superb job at Lost Farm but it seems he does a pretty good job at talking a lot of sense when it comes to a whole load of issues concerning golf. A recent interview with Bill Coore has him chatting about the long running debate about the golf ball and its impact on golf courses. Below are a few snippets from the article.

8 great Australian golf courses you've never heard of

Australia is spoiled for choice when it comes to golf courses. There are enough courses nestled in all parts of the country that you really don't have to travel overseas to experience different types of golf and conditions. 

You want resort, target-style golf? We have it. Maybe some laid back, fun and friendly parklands golf? Yes.  How about some traditional links golf in cold, windy conditions that will have you thinking you're in Scotland? We have that too.

Here, in no particular order, are eight great Australian golf courses you may not have heard of before. These are hidden gems scattered around the country and well worth adding to your list of must-play Australian golf courses.

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Nitties wins, now to resurrect PGA Tour career

James Nitties has won the Victorian PGA Championship by one shot from Peter O'Malley in what Nitties described as 'epic' golf at the Sandhurst Golf Club in Melbourne.

Nitties and O'Malley played in the final group and only a shot separated the two for most of the day. O'Malley needed a birdie on the final hole to tie for the lead and force a sudden-death playoff but only managed a par.

Race events start in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide

GOLF Link have started up their Race Series once again with events scheduled again in Sydney, Melbourne and this year, Adelaide.

It is a great concept. You get to play in specified events at different courses throughout the year to build up enough points to qualify for the final tournament with loads of prizes on offer.

Here is a list of each Race Series and a link to book a tee time in the first event of the year.

Sydney: Race to Cypress Lakes - First event at Bonnie Doon Golf Club, January 20, 2011

Melbourne: Race to Rich River - First event at Southern Golf Club, January 21, 2011

Adelaide: Race to Lady Bay - First event at Flagstaff Hill Golf Club, January 21, 2011

It is worth playing the qualifying event just to play these three great golf courses. I have previously sung the praises of Southern Golf Club, and Bonnie Doon and Flagstaff Hill are no goat tracks either!

Tiger dumped from Golf Digest

Following on from the recent news that Tiger Woods and Golf Digest have parted ways, comes this brilliant piece of writing from Jim Windolf at Vanity Fair.

He has a little fun with the news that the Tiger Woods instruction pieces will no longer appear in Golf Digest anymore. Here's a snippet:

What, suddenly Tiger is not a good writer? Was there something in his recent “Stay Smooth on Must-Make Putts” column that rankled his editors? Did he employ one too many adverbs in his “Lean Left and Swing Steep in Greenside Bunkers” piece? Or did the Condé Nast ombudsman (that prickly bastard) object to something in the Tiger article headlined “Chin Up for Good Posture”?

Here's the link to Jim Windolf's full article, Sympathy for Tiger Woods on the Loss of His Golf Digest Column. Read it. Just read it.

H/T Geoff Shackleford.

Video: Bubba Watson hits driver from the fairway

Bubba Watson hits the ball a long way. He provided the shot of the week at Kapalua last week with this incredible shot.

He played his driver off the tee and decided to use it again for his second shot on 18. He shapes a driver off the deck onto the green to set up eagle. He drained the putt too! Check it out below.

via Devil Ball and Dogs That Chase Cars

Queensland flood disaster

This picture was recently taken from the clubhouse at the Toowoomba Golf Course. As you can see it hasn't been spared in this massive disaster which has claimed lives and many who have lost everything.

A flood relief appeal has been set up if you would like to make a financial donation to assist those affected by the devastation.

Could Stephen Leaney earn a spot in the British Open?

Update (12/01/11): Stephen Leaney has missed out on a place in the British Open after losing a playoff for third place on the second extra hole. Matthew Millar, Kurt Barnes and Rick Kulacz qualified for The Open Championship at St.George's in July.


Stephen Leaney could well be considered Australia's golf journeyman. He has experienced the highs of the golf game and plenty of lows. He is currently in second spot at the Australasian qualifying tournament for the 2011 British Open at Kingston Heath today and needs a top-3 finish to qualify for a start.

Surf Coast Knockout spicing up golf on TV

Australia's newest golf tournament is set to tee off next week with a revolutionary made-for-TV format. 

The Surf Coast Knockout switches from stroke play to match play on Sunday afternoon, when a series of 6-hole knockout matches will decide the winner of the tournament. Peter Lonard, Craig Parry and Peter O'Malley will be a part of the 144 man field that starts next week at The Sands Golf Course at Torquay, Victoria.

Rules of Golf: Loose Impediments

Camilo Villegas was disqualified from last week's PGA Tour event in Hawaii. A TV viewer noticed the possible rules infringement and alerted tournament officials of the Hyundai Tournament of Champions.

You can see the infringement in the video below where golf Rule 23-1 was broken, relating to loose impediments. It states:

When a ball is in motion, a loose impediment that might influence the movement of the ball must not be removed.

Camilo took it on the chin, “While it is obviously a disappointing way to start the season, the rules are the rules. And when something like this happens, it’s important to me that you’re respectful of the game and the people involved.”

More rules of golf

What if I hit out of bounds from a bunker?

What if I hit the wrong golf ball?

My ball is overhanging the hole!

Jason Day duffs a drive 100 metres; still makes par

We are going to see plenty of highlights from Jason Day this year so let's get this one in while we can. 

Playing his drive at the par-4 13th at the Plantation Course (Kapalua) at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions this weekend he duffed his drive 110 yards as you can see first in the video below. 

His playing partner Justin Rose, thought it was the funniest thing he'd seen in a long time and when Day pulled out driver again for his second said, "You've got some balls to hit driver again". But driver again he hit and ended up with a par!

His reaction is fantastic to an obviously crap shot and it is fast becoming clear (despite the shot) that he has got a pretty good head on his shoulders.

Related stories

Predictions for Australian golf in 2011

Finally we see the light of Day

Yelling 'fore' optional...according to NY court ruling

Here is a golf story that you may have missed in the Christmas mayhem.

A New York State court has ruled that golfers who fail to yell 'fore' are not liable for damage. A golfer was hit in the eye when his friend shanked a shot into the eye of his playing partner. this permanently impaired his vision and his career as a neurologist was over.

Geoff Ogilvy cuts finger, may miss tournament

Update: Geoff Ogilvy has withdrawn from the Hyundai Tournament of Champions due to cutting his finger tripping in the surf. He posted a picture of the "offending finger" on his Twitter profile.

Geoff Ogilvy arrived in Hawaii looking to defend his title at Kapalua, Maui this week and make it his third win at the tournament in a row. It unfortunately looks like he may miss the Hyundai Tournament of Champions tournament altogether with reports saying he required 12 stitches in his finger on Tuesday after cutting it on some coral.

He began the week tweeting about how much he loved Hawaii and mentioned he went out for his first surf of the year with Adam Scott (Geoff Ogilvy on Twitter).

Nothing since.

It will be a huge let down as Ogilvy had some pretty good form in Australia winning the Australian Open and finishing second at Coolum. He looked to be hitting the ground running into 2011 and at a venue where Aussies have had a monopoly on the winners cheque in recent years, he is outright favourite.

Latest reports say he will tee off in the final group on Thursday and then immediately withdraw. This ensures the last place cheque in an event with no cut.

Augusta now featured on PGA Tour game

You can now play Augusta National, from your couch

Update: It has come to my attention that Royal Melbourne is also part of Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2012!

EA Sports Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12 video game will feature the hallowed grounds of Augusta National as one of the courses you can now play. The course has been off limits to not just women but gamers across the world, until now.

According to club chairman, Billy Payne, the club agreed to open its virtual doors to grow the game and introduce more people to golf with all profits made form the game going towards a new (very vague) foundation.

Video preview: Augusta National now on EA Sports PGA Tour 12

Here is the promotional video from EA Sports announcing the news that Augusta National will now feature in the next instalment of the PGA Tour Tiger Woods franchise. Released on March 29, 2011.

More golf videos

Tiger shares cover on own video game

Tiger Woods 10 viral video challenge

Tiger walks on water

Where did the term 'yips' come from?

I got worried when this popped into my inbox. It was the Merriam-Webster dictionary's take on the word "yips".

It is something I've been lucky to avoid so far but I usually dare not speak the name, just in case it sticks to me or some unsuspecting golfer who was walking past at the time. I was interested in what they had to say about where the term may have come from. It is a little vague and unknown but I give it to you here all the same;

"Who first dubbed an athlete's stress under pressure the "yips"? We're not sure. We also can’t say for certain if this plural noun has anything to do with the singular "yip," a word of imitative origin meaning "a short bark (as of a dog)." Some theories equate the "yip" sound made by a small dog with the unfortunate habit some athletes have of flinching or "hiccupping" when a steady hand is called for. What we do know for certain is that sportswriters have been using "yips" since 1962 and that it most often appears in golf-related contexts."

Now go back to whatever you were doing and forget you ever heard the word.

Predictions for Australian golf in 2011

Australian golf is in for a big 2011. The Presidents Cup bound for Melbourne in November has already created stir and the event will be the biggest golf tournament in Australia for a very long time. A few professionals on tour who are due for some big victories and of there is more news on its way concerning the new handicapping system that affects the rest of us!

Let's take a look at what is in store and make a few predictions for Australian golf in 2011.

Jason Day

Jason Day will finish 2011 in the world's top 20 golfers

Only a year older than Rickie Fowler (every Americans pick for 'next big thing') Jason Day won, finished 8th in the FedEx Cup and earned nearly US$3million in 2010. All with troubling sinus issues. Surgery in the post-season saw him miss the Australian swing. He'll be rested and ready to go. Who wants a bet he'll be better than Rickie this year?

Greg Norman will announce he is in the happiest place he has ever been thanks to his third wife.

Geoff Ogilvy is back and will win a major

I was starting to worry about Geoff midway through 2010. But he's just fine. His form late in the year was excellent and his Australian Open win has lit the fire once more. Look for him to win in Hawaii once more and  I feel another major coming on. Perhaps the US Open as Tiger will win the US Masters.

The Internationals will win the Presidents Cup

This will be the biggest most-hyped Presidents Cup yet and it'll be an International victory. The US team won't cope well on the extremely foreign Royal Melbourne with only limited practice on course.  

The Australian Open in Sydney will not feature as many international stars as expected

The clash with the lucrative Singapore Open and a small winner's cheque may see golfers heading to the Presidents Cup skip our national tournament.

The Australian Masters has been relegated to the first weekend in December which will be difficult to bring in stars. Owners IMG aren't happy and they may not take this on the chin. Stay tuned.

Social rounds to be re-implemented for handicapping

The USGA who license the new handicapping system being introduced across Australia have been in the country after the negative feedback to the most recent changes. It is a different golf culture in Australia compared to the rest of the world but listen out for an announcement from golf Australia within the first few months of 2011.

Michael Jordan will arrive at The Presidents Cup and profess his love for Australia. He will then spend every evening dropping millions at the Crown Casino.

Royal Melbourne (West) will be rated Australia's best golf course
After losing the top spot to Kingston Heath recently it will rise once again to our top golf course. Lost Farm will appear extremely high on the list and may also appear in the world's Top 100.

Royal Melbourne

Happy New Year and major dates

NSW Golf Club. Photo courtesy of Greg Gering.

I'd like to use today to wish all Aussie Golfer readers a Happy New Year! May 2011 bring you plenty of golf and lower handicaps.

As usual Aussie Golfer will continue to bring you the sort of golf talk not seen in the papers. We're always looking for ideas on how to make Aussie Golfer better. We'll be bringing you more golf tips this year and of course, we'll keep you up to date with the latest in professional golf world. 

Remember you can follow Aussie Golfer on Twitter and become a fan on the Aussie Golfer Facebook fanpage.

It is about this time of year I'm asked where and when the major golf tournaments are on, so here they are:

US Masters, Augusta National, April 7 - 10, 2011

US Open, Congressional Country Club, June 16 - 19, 2011

British Open, Royal St.George's Golf Club, July 14 - 17, 2011

US PGA Championship, Atlanta Athletic Club, August 11 - 14, 2011

Any chance of an Aussie winner in 2011?