Pro golfers wearing power bands are delusional and irresponsible

Why are so many professional golfers still wearing wrist bands that have been deemed a scam?

At the British Open in July, it was suggested that around 25% of all players (and caddies) were wearing some form or another of the power balance wristbands. Just watching recent golf tournaments on TV, I'd be inclined to say the number is probably much higher. More like 50% of the field.

Power Balance admitted their wristbands have no scientific basis at all and the Australian website of the charade has now been shut down. The tricks used to show their magic has been shown to be nothing more than applied kinesiology in a number of online videos; the most famous and succinct by Richard Saunders. In short, any enhanced performance from these pieces of plastic is only due to the placebo effect.

So what is going on? With access to the best technology, physiotherapists and psychologists, why are so many professional golfers still wearing them?

Handicapping changes set for September 21

More golf handicapping changes on the way.

We're now almost three weeks away from the latest instalment of handicapping changes for Australian golf. A number of changes will be made to the current handicapping method on September 21, 2011 including a change to the way your handicap is calculated.

After a thorough analysis of the effect of the USGA handicapping system, Golf Australia have announced some amendments to be made to the system to suit the Australian golf environment, which is markedly different to the club golf environment in the US. (Although incredibly similar to the New Zealand golf environment, I might add).

Nude photo leads to suspension of college golf team

A college golf team at Bethany College in the US have been suspended for posing nude for an unofficial team photo.

Fourteen members of the golf team at Bethany College were suspended for three tournaments last week after administrators deemed the photo too racy and not aligned with the values of the college.

Furyk's reaction to earthquake

A 5.8 magnitude earthquake hit the north-east of the United States on Tuesday last week. Centered in Virginia, it was felt across many states including New Jersey where The Barclays was being played.

When it struck, Jim Furyk was being interviewed before the event and was asked about the tips Keegan Bradley gave to him with regards to the belly putter. Check out the video below, his reaction is priceless.

This is why he's a professional and we're amateurs. Cool, calm and extremely focused in pressure situations. 

Sergio Garcia and Golf's Toughest Shot

There's been a cool Adidas promotion going on at the Barclays PGA Tour event this week.

In conjunction with Adidas Golf, an awesome bit of 3D pavement art has been drawn by Joe Hill, with Sergio Garcia standing in to attempt the impossible. Reminds me a bit of the 17th at Hope Island, or the 5th at Narooma!

Spectators can have their picture taken at the tournament this week and many are on display at the Adidas Golf Facebook page. A video showing making of Golf's Toughest Shot is below.

With all the bad weather on its way due to Hurricane Irene, I hope all this doesn't wash away.

Vic Open to be a mixed golf tournament

The Victorian Open becomes a mixed event with men and women playing in the same tournament.

Here is another first for Australian golf. The 2012 Victorian Open will be played in a mixed format featuring both men and women playing simultaneously for their own separate Victorian Open titles.

The 2012 Men's Victorian Open will be played over 72-holes per usual at Spring Valley Golf Club from Thursday 5th to Sunday 8th January. The Women’s Victorian Open will be concurrently played over 54 holes with prize money will also be identical with a minimum of $125,000 on offer for each title.

Golfer knocks over a few wine bottles, from 100 metres away

Prone to knocking over a few bottles of wine? Perhaps not like this.

Grant Dodd is a former professional golfer who now covers the OneAsia Tour for OneHD. He writes a blog and is a huge wine connoisseur so he is pretty familiar with knocking over a bottle of wine or two.

He is seen here playing some extraordinary (and somewhat unbelievable) golf shots at some wine bottles, from the Brokenwood Cellar Door onto the 17th green at Cypress Lakes.

Something smells fishy about this in the same way Roger Federer's video did. But who cares, it's fun to watch. Just don't try it yourself. At least, not after you've had a few glasses.

Get excited. Presidents Cup 81 days away.

It it time to start getting excited. 

We are officially 82 days away from the first shot at the 2011 Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne (Nov 14 - 20), the scene of the only victory for the International Team in eight attempts.

The International Team has good reason to be thinking about a second victory. The sandbelt location of Royal Melbourne is unlike the majority of golf courses in the United States, and the team is also shaping up to be a good one.

A brief look at the current standings for the teams below, reveals a competitive International Team in arguably better form than the US Team. But what I find interesting is the players in 11 - 20th spot.

New golf movie on its way, Seven Days in Utopia

There's never been a good golf movie. 

I know, I know. That's going to attract some criticism from the Caddyshack, Tin Cup and Happy Gilmore lovers, but I'm standing by it.

Caddyshack certainly had some hilarious moments courtesy of Bill Murray, Chevy Chase and Rodney Dangerfield but for the most part, it wasn't great. Tin Cup was a struggle and Happy Gilmore was a piss take really. There have also been others that really don't rate a mention at all.

I think the a movie about golf would ever compare drama that goes along with any game of golf, by anyone, on any day of the year. 

So it is with utmost trepidation that I share the trailer for an upcoming golf movie. 

It does star Robert Duvall though, who is a favourite of mine so maybe it's not all bad. But the trailer doesn't do a lot for me. We'll have to wait and see.

It is released in the US over the coming weeks, but no word on when, or if, it will be released in Australia.

A couple more 'highlights' from the PGA Championship

Here are a couple more things that happened at the 2011 PGA Championship last week.

Firstly, this video shows a bizarre couple of shots played by Rory McIlroy and Rickie Fowler. Both we played within minutes of each other during the third round, but their golf shots were almost identical. Come up short, bounce off the wall and onto the green.

Secondly, here is a great story submitted by a reader to Golf Digest, concerning Phil Mickelson and his wayward golf in the same tournament. He had just nailed a spectator on the head and signed a glove for the man's troubles:

Sitting on the ground and looking up at Phil, the man said "This is my first golf tournament, and I get hit in the head!" A little smile formed at the corner of Phil's mouth, and he said, "Sir, if this wasn't your first tournament, you would have known to pay more attention when I'm hitting driver."

I give up. Big Phil sounds immensely likable after this?! What's he playing at?

H/T Geoff Shackleford

Australian Open tickets on sale

The 2011 Australian Open is shaping up to be one of the best ever and tickets have just gone on sale.

"Unmissable" is the way organisers of the 2011 Australian Open have decided to tag the event, and they aren't too far from the truth. Any golf fan would be crazy to miss this one with plenty of big names already signed up to play at The Lakes Golf Club, November 10 - 13, 2011.

See Australian Open ticket prices below.

Jason Day is making his first appearance on Australian soil as a professional with big name and big hitting Americans Dustin Johnson and Bubba Watson set to join him.

Word on the street is that Rickie Fowler is also set to confirm his appearance. It wouldn't surprise me if we see a few other American big names announced in the field over the next few months. Not to mention some of the other International stars who will be in the Presidents Cup team.

What happens when you drive over your golf ball?

My playing partner drove over his own golf ball a few weeks ago. Here is the correct procedure courtesy of The Golf Show on FoxSports, including the ruling when you drive over someone else's golf ball.

Listen carefully, and then start watching where you're driving.

2011 Presidents Cup Standings

Venue: Royal Melbourne Golf Club
Date: November 14 - 20, 2011

Teams: Top 10 players automatically qualify for the Presidents Cup for each team. Two more players will make up the team of 12, chosen by team captains on September 26, 2011.

USA Captain: Fred Couples (Assistants: Jay Haas, Michael Jordan)

International Captain: Greg Norman (Assistants: Frank Nobilo, Tim Clark)

Updated Presidents Cup Standings: September 19, 2011

	USA	Internationals
1	Matt Kuchar	Jason Day
2	Steve Stricker	Adam Scott
3	Dustin Johnson	Charl Schwartzel
4	Webb Simpson	K.J. Choi
5	Nick Watney	Kyung-tae Kim
6	Phil Mickelson	Retief Goosen
7	Bubba Watson	Geoff Ogilvy
8	David Toms	Ernie Els
9	Hunter Mahan	Y.E.Yang
10	Jim Furyk	Ryo Ishikawa
11	Brandt Snedeker	Louis Oosthuizen
12	Bill Haas	Tim Clark*
13	Bo Van Pelt	Vijay Singh
14	Rickie Fowler	Aaron Baddeley
15	Zach Johnson	Robert Allenby
16	Jonathan Byrd	Rory Sabbatini
17	Ryan Moore	Yuta Ikeda
18	Jason Dufner	Richard Green
19	Mark Wilson	Sang-Moon Bae
20	Keegan Bradley	Camilo Villegas

*Tim Clark has ruled himself out of the Presidents Cup due to injury. He will be one of Greg Norman's assistants.

Italian teen prodigy to play Australian Masters

The Australian summer of golf just got bigger with the news that young Italian Matteo Manassero will play in the 2011 JBWere Australian Masters.

I don't think it's too much of a stretch to predict Matteo Manassero as being a future major winner. The 18-year-old Italian has already impressed on the big stage

Book review: The Caddie Who Won The Masters

The list of great golf books is only slightly longer than the list of great golf movies. Tom Cox's golf books gave me a laugh and even Michael Parkinson's was a reasonable read but I tend to steer clear of both media when it comes to golf.

Fictional golf stories are not something I've ever come across before but John Coyne has given it a go in his latest book "The Caddie Who Won The Masters" and I was sent a copy to read.

The novel based around a 49-year-old amateur golfer who plays his way into the Masters. He is like a fish out of water surrounded by the young amateurs who have qualified but gets a helping hand around Augusta National by the ghost of Masters past including Bobby Jones and Ben Hogan.

Keegan Bradley wins USPGA. Who is Keegan Bradley?

It took four rounds and three extra holes for Keegan Bradley to win the US PGA championship at his first appearance in a major.

After a dramatic final four holes which had proved dramatic all week long, Keegan Bradley and Jason Dufner had tied for the lead at 8-under par and were forced into a three-hole playoff. Bradley birdied the first playoff hole just moments after Dufner had almost holed his shot from the fairway. An eventual bogey, followed by another on the next hole by Dufner all but assured Bradley his victory.

Dufner looked to have the last major championship of the year sewn up as he arrived the notoriously difficult par-3 15th. A four shot lead soon evaporated as he found the water on the right. This started a run of three bogey's as his putter ran cold.

GolfLink Mates winners announced

Aussie Golfer is pleased to announce the winners of the GolfLink Mates competition.

The winners are:

Mitch Davison and Phil Miners!

Both Mitch and Phil will recieve a year's free membership for GolfLink Mates. 

Remember, if you didn't win and you have an official GolfLink handicap, you can join up to GolfLink Mates yourself. You can even try before you buy with GolfLink currently offering a 14-day trial.

Rory rooted after first round of USPGA Championship

Rory McIlroy went after a ball he shouldn't have this morning.

McIlroy found his ball resting against a tree root on the third hole of his opening round of the USPGA Championship this morning. Despite the potential for disaster, young McIlroy went for it, broke his club and did some damage to his wrist.

See the shot in the video below, courtesy of FoxSports.

The 15th hole is ridiculous

Keep a close eye on the 15th hole at Atlanta Athletic Golf Club during this weekend's USPGA Championship. It  could easily decide the winner of the tournament but not with birdies, most likely a bogey or worse.

The hole is a 265 yard par-3. That's a 242 metre par-3 with water down the right hand side and the green spreading out behind it.

Adam's long putter keeps rubbing against my ear

A great article by Richard Hinds in the SMH today - "Us caddies hate to fly our own flag, but it's hard to be humble when you've got 13 majors in the bag" - a somewhat fictional account of a day in the life of Steve Williams, Adam Scott's caddy.

Some highlights:

7am: Knock on Adam Scott's hotel-room door and prepare to pull him from beneath a pile of hookers and cocktail waitresses. But he is showered, dressed and ready to go. Strange behaviour for a top-flight player, but it's not up to a humble servant like me to make moral judgments.

Eleventh fairway: Adam's long putter keeps rubbing against my ear. But, in this game, hardship and suffering are part of the deal. So I snap the thing over my knee, tell Adam only those dodderers on the senior's tour and Tiger's old girlfriends need broomsticks and to man up and putt with a normal implement. He says Tony Navarro never spoke to him like that. The boy clearly needs some tough love.

Read the full article

USPGA championship on Australian TV

FoxSports 3 have live coverage of the USPGA Championship this weekend. 

Warning: Watching all the golf, across all four days may result in either poor performance at work next week or a breakdown in family relationships.

Live Coverage - FoxSports3

Friday: 4am - 9am

Saturday : 4am - 9am

Sunday: 4:30am - 9am

Monday: 4:30am - 9am

Which Aussies can win the US PGA Championship?

Nine Australians are in the field for the US PGA Championship but only two of them can win it. We list who can and can't win this week.

It's an exciting time for Australian golf. The country is set for the biggest summer of golf we've ever seen and our golfers are no longer just competing, but winning.

Peter Senior must surely pick up a win on the Champions Tour soon, Mat Goggin on the Nationwide Tour is one win away from an automatic spot back on the PGA Tour, and Adam Scott is one of the favourites to win this week's major, the US PGA Championship.

The US PGA Championship is the smaller, lesser known sibling of the four majors and outside the US, it struggles to have a real identity of its own. Nevertheless, it is a major championship, and for anyone referred to as "one of the best golfers never to win a major" it would be a welcome victory.

Australia has had three winners at the US PGA Championship since its inception in 1958. David Graham won in 1979 and went on to win the US Open in 1981. Wayne Grady and Steve Elkington won their sole major at the US PGA Championship in 1990 and 1995 respectively.

But what about 2011?

We have two very fine golfers in very fine form right now. Adam Scott and Jason Day are now ranked in the world's top-10 golfers and most importantly, both have confidence in abundance.

Let's take a look at the Aussies 2011 US PGA Championship in the field this week and see who has any sort of chance of winning.

Aussie 9-year-old wins US Kids World Championship

Remember this name, Karl Vilips.

Australian Karl Vilips has just won the 9-year-old division of the US Kids World Championship. He shot a final round 5-under 67 to come from three shots behind to claim victory.

Martin Blake at The Age reports that the event in considered the most prestigious tournament in the world for children, and this is the second time Vilips has won here. He claimed the 8-year-old division two years ago.

"I had no idea how popular a New Zealander can be"

Adam Scott won the WGC event on the weekend but there's been plenty of discussion about the comments from his caddy Steve Williams. 

Most of us would agree it wasn't a great look for Williams to talk so much after the event, and perhaps took some of the attention off of Scott's great performance. But, I really don't think it's going to bother Scott much as all.

During Adam Scott's post-round interview he was asked about the popularity of Steve Williams;

Q: What was it like walking up 18, tournament in hand, and all the fans are yelling for your caddie? (Laughter.)

ADAM SCOTT: Yeah, I had no idea how popular a New Zealander can be, coming from Australia. Surprising.

The guy seems to take most things in his stride. He's relaxed and pretty happy with his golf game right now. I think Williams can say whatever he wants without it bothering Scott at all.

Bring on the US PGA Championship.

"It's the greatest week of my life": Steve Williams

If you haven't heard by now, Steve Williams, Adam Scott's caddy couldn't resist a few short jabs at his former employer after Adam Scott's win at the WGC Bridgestone Invitational today.

In the video below, Williams claims it was the greatest win of his life and is obviously still a little pissed off about being sacked by Tiger Woods.

I can't help but feel the whole thing is taking the gloss of Adam Scott's win a little. Like all good umpires, perhaps caddies should be seen and not heard.

Adam Scott post round interview

Here's the full video (18mins) of Adam Scott talking to the media after his victory at the WGC Bridgestone Invitational.

Adam Scott wins WGC Bridgestone Invitational

Adam Scott has won his first World Golf Championship event and claims a handy $1.4million.

Adam Scott lead after every round to win the WGC Bridgestone Invitational this morning and it was as composed as we've ever seen him. 

Scott made four birdies on the back nine including a great chip-in on the par-3 12th (see video below) to finish the tournament on 17-under par. The final margin of victory was four shots over Rickie Fowler and Luke Donald. Jason Day was the next best of the Aussie golfers, finishing a further shot back on 12-under.

Scott looks really good. He looks patient and the long putter is working perfectly. All in time for this week's major, the PGA Championship.

Presidents Cup travel: How to get to Royal Melbourne

Royal Melbourne Golf Club plays host to the 2011 Presidents Cup, November 14 - 20, 2011. If you need a few tips on how to get there during the event, here's a few tips that may help.

By car

Royal Melbourne Golf Club is on Cheltenham Road, Black Rock; around 35 minutes drive, south-east of the Melbourne city centre. Depending on traffic conditions I'd allow at least 45 minutes to make the journey from the city.

Day and Scott lead, and say the right things

It was a great surprise to wake this morning to see Adam Scott and Jason Day on top of the leader board of the WGC Bridgestone Invitational.

It was always going to be difficult for any golfer to eclipse the return of Tiger Woods, but Scott and Day seem to have done that, posting a bogey-free 62 and 63 respectively to see them first and second.

I particularly like where their heads are at right now and it's evident in what they had to say after the round.

Firstly, Day on his 'boring' round of golf:

"I hit driver well and hit a lot of good quality iron shots into the greens. I didn't stomp it all day, but I hit it to a good 15 to 20 feet all day. My putter was good all day. I hit a lot of good quality putts and felt it was a boring kind of a game. 

"It was down the middle, on the green, and every two or three holes was a birdie which was nice. But I'll take a boring seven-under all the time."

And Scott:

"I just feel like I need to get myself in these things from Thursday, show up and go, not show up and see how you get on the first nine," 

"I feel like that's a good way for me to go because I'm hitting the ball well, and I feel really confident on the greens. It was green light and just attack."

There is a long way to go in the tournament but on the whole, it's just great to hear these guys oozing confidence. 

Will Ferrell FAQs on the golf course

Will Ferrell recently hosted The Will Powered Golf Classic, a golf event aiming to raise money for Cancer for College. The organisation provides financial support through scholarships for cancer survivors.

Will turns out with his wife and a hold load of willing golfers but as usual, things are never straight forward when he is on the course. Like this sign for instance. Even his promotional photos are, well, weird.

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Seven Aussies take to Firestone

There's a World Golf Championship event this weekend and seven Australians are in the field.

In addition to the return of world number 28, Tiger Woods this week, there are also WGC Bridgestone Invitational field. The WGC events feature only the best golfers and hence the field is limited this week to 79 eligible golfers.

The tournament has been held at the Firestone Country Club where Tiger Woods has won seven times. Craig Parry won here in 2002 but there hasn't been much luck since with Robert Allenby being runner-up twice and Stuart Appleby missing out by a shot in 2008.

It's a little odd to see Stuart Appleby in the field for this event given his form and 114 world ranking. 

Let's look at the seven Aussies in the field and find out how they got there and what their chances are, starting with Apples.

Lost Farm debuts in Top 100 golf courses in the world

GOLF Magazine have released their biennial list of the Top 100 golf courses in the world and it features six Australian courses.

Barnbougle Lost Farm has entered Golf Magazine's 'Top 100 Golf courses in the World' list at number 82 making it only one of four golf courses to feature on the prestigious list for the first time.

In total, six Australian golf courses feature on the list, with Royal Melbourne our top ranked course at number 13.

The top 10 golf courses are completely unchanged from GOLF Magazine's 2009 list with Pine Valley ranked the highest, marginally ahead of Cypress Point and Augusta National.

Australian courses to feature on the 2011 list of Top 100 golf courses in the World:
13 - Royal Melbourne (West)
27 - Kingston Heath
34 - New South Wales
41 - Barnbougle Dunes
82 - Barnbougle Lost Farm
85 - Royal Adelaide

The Gunpowder Golf Shot

The European Tour have released the third video in its 'Every Shot Imaginable' series.

If you've seen the 'Every Shot Imaginable' videos before, you'll know they grab a handful of European tour players to play some sort of extraordinary golf shot that usually takes all day to complete the feat.

This time Jeev Milkha Singh, Pablo Larrazabal, Gregory Bourdy and Stephen Gallacher take to the clifftops on the Moray Firth in Scotland, to defend Fort George. They need to pop a golf ball into a gunpowder barrel around 100metres offshore.

Sounds easy enough.

Previous 'Every Shot Imaginable' videos:
The 200yd Gong Shot
The Clay Pigeon Golf Shot

Tiger Woods to play Australian Open in Sydney

Tiger Woods has confirmed his appearance in the 2011 Australian Open at The Lakes Golf Course in Sydney.

The head of Golf Australia announced this morning that Tiger Woods will be in the field at the 2011 Australian Open. Along with other confirmed starters Jason Day, Bubba Watson and Dustin Johnson, the field is surely becoming the best in the 107-year history of the tournament.

It is an interesting announcement considering Woods has been out of action due to injury, he is currently number 28 in the World Golf Rankings, and is no certainty to make the Presidents Cup team to play in Melbourne the week after.

Volcano ash covers golf course

This photo is too awesome not to share.

It is taken at the 9th green of the Llao Llao Hotel and Golf Resort in Bariloche, Chile. The green is covered in ash from the Puyehue volcano in Argentina which began erupting on June 4, 2011, and this photo was taken the day after.

The eruption was the same one which caused all the air traffic chaos in Australia about a week later.

The photograph was taken by Francisco Ramos Mejia and courtesy of AFP/Getty Images. To view a large version of the photo, head over to Golf Digest.