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David Law and Celine Boutier took home equal prize money after winning the respective mens and womens tournaments and the first time ever a mixed group played together in the third round. Spectators were allowed to walk on the fairways lending a relaxed atmosphere to the event, allowing them to get close to the players. It was more like the Sunningdale Foursomes than a European Tour event.

Gavin Moynihan, Dale Williamson and Manon De Roey (pictured below)  played their historic third round together. Manon said she was hoping for more opportunities like this for the future.

Andrew “Beef” Johnstone said about the spectators being so close to the players “It’s very different weaving in and out of people, it’s nice to have that it takes your mind off it”.

Many male players played practice rounds with the women and got to share advice with each other. Former US Open Champion Geoff Ogilvy said “men and women playing together makes sense. Two real tournaments played at the same time just like tennis, it makes sense.

Dustin Johnson had a 2 stroke victory in the PGA European Tour’s inaugural Saudi International at Royal Greens Golf and Country Club. It was Johnson’s 21st worldwide victory and his first on the European Tour. He is currently 3rd in the world rankings.

He entered the final round tied with Haotong Li and with 9 holes remaining he trailed Li by 1 stroke but 4 birdies in the last 8 holrd including the final 2 were good enough for the win. On Friday he had his lowest round of his professional career when he shot a course record 61 with 7 birdies and an eagle.

It’s interesting to hear from his coaches that they give him less information, not more as he likes to play with very few swing thoughts. His swing is my favourite in all professional golf at the moment, it’s a hugely athletic movement and it’s such a pleasure to watch him hit balls. In this swing sequence in slow motion you can really appreciate it. What I particularly like is the takeaway movement from a strong grip, this is a great movement.

Strictly Come Dancing star and avid golfer Anton Du Beke has just analysed on Sky Sports some of the best dance celebrations in golf. None of them are as good as these – I’m at the back somewhere in this film!

If you’re going to dance on a golf course, please don’t dance like this

This is my impression of that, taken on the Wentworth Club ballroom

Sergio Garcia was disqualified from the Saudi International today when new rule 1.2a, which came into force on January 1, was invoked because of his behaviour.

On Friday Garcia took several swipes at a bunker when he failed to get out on the 4th hole. But today the offending parts of the course were the greens. He hit his puttet i to the greens on several holes causing damage to the surface of the brand new course at Royal Greens Golf and Country Club. Garcia was reported to tour officials by other players.

Rule 1.2 says

CONDUCT

All players are expected to play in the spirit of the game.

.     Acting with integrity

.     Showing consideration for others

.     Taking good care of the course

Referees can disqualify a player if they act in a way which is serious misconduct contrary to the spirit of the game.

Former Masters Champion Garcia said “I respect the decision of my disqualification. I damaged a couple of greens for which I apologise for…it will never happen again”.

Dont really understand the talk about Emilliano Grillo’s new hair. He always hides it under a hat. Young Rory’s hair is all his own, he could have donated that to a hair transplant clinic and made a lot of men with receding hairlines happy. I went to the hairdresser today and

This resembles what my own hair looked like before it was cut slightly, but not much more shorter. Wreaks havoc on the downswing, but all in the name of fashion.

I got up in a hurry this morning and in the dark I picked out two socks to wear. I’ve just looked down at them. One is purple, the other is pink. Who was I to know that out in Scottsdale Cameron Champ had done a similar thing with his golf shoes?  He’s contracted to wear Nike apparel and looks like he had been given the new React Vapor 2 shoes in several colours and he picked out one of each to wear for Round 2.

There were a set of photographs I saw once, taken in the 1970s, of Gary Player’s swing sequence. In order to demonstrate how each side of the body works separately and together he wore a suit, half of which was black and half white, it was very effective. Perhaps Cameron’s coach is working on his footwork and it’s something he was using as a practice drill on the range and he forgot to change. Either that or he doesnt know left or right.

Or possibly it’s a way to get people to talk about him again, because he’s no longer the man of the moment. He was rather overshadowed by Matthew Wolff yesterday and it looks that way again today. Wolff is currently three under par for the first three holes.

As I write we’re all waiting for Matthew Wolff to begin his second round at the Phoenix Open. He’s -4 after a 67 yesterday that caused huge excitement. The 19 year old Oklahoma State sophomore played round one alongside Cameron Champ, the longest driver on the PGA tour, and regularly out drove him by four yards.

Looking at the stats Wolff’s drives were from 318 to 353 yards, averaging 328! He hit 10 out of 14 fairways and 16 out of 18 greens. This is why he’s no 1 amateur in the world and National Freshman of the Year last season. This season he has won all three of his first three events. And all with a crazy looking swing, which he’s had repeated offers to fix. “I’ve proved them all wrong…it motivates me a little” he says.

The swing may be taken back vertically, crosses  the line at the top and have a high right elbow and left foot balanced with his toes but on the downswing he pivots and goes back under slots the club into position repeatedly and consistently. He creates a huge torque and force. He gets into an open shoulders and hips position at impact and hits the ball very hard. Although it’s an unorthodox looking swing it is natural and athletic looking and creates clubhead speed measured at 134 mph on TrackMan. Most of all it looks like a consistent, repetitive movement from which he sets up a lot of birdies.

This week so far at Phoenix his statistics are

2nd in Putts (GIR)

• 2nd in Driving Accuracy

• T3 in Proximity

• 5th in Driving Distance

• T10 on the leaderboard

He seems to approach the game like Oklahoma State alumnus Rickie Fowler, a little bit showmanlike. At Phoenix this week the galleries have loved him, he’s fresh and exciting. It could be just the start of the next generation.

Interesting comments this week from Phil Mickelson about his use of twitter. He says that his agents are buffering him from the consequences of what he writes on his new twitter account which was set up primarily to promote The Match.

“we all know that I say and do things that sometimes are just stupid and so I have to have a buffer”.

Yes, he said his behaviour has been stupid… Is this the beginning of self awareness?!

So he writes and then two people check it through to make sure there’s nothing in there that shouldn’t be. They check it so as he says “I’m not making some of the mistakes that I made in the past”. Does this mean that he’s turning over a new leaf, or perhaps being extra cautious before he becomes Ryder Cup Captain (I would not be surprised at all if it was Phil rather than Steve Stricker who captained the American team at Whistling Straits in 2020).

Shame that his social media minders can’t attend every press conference and pause what comes out of his voice because some of the impulsive things that he has said have needed editing. It’s something that only he can conquer. The pearls of Phil have certainly been entertaining over the years, but he needs to be aware of the hurt that he has caused at times, and that’s something incompatable with the grinning, thumbs up, endlessly signing autographs, being nice to old ladies image that he and his agents like to portray.

This week the PGA tour is at TPC Scottsdale for the Waste Management Phoenix Open. It’s Super Bowl weekend and the biggest and rowdiest galleries in golf are ready to party, especially on the short 16th hole. It’s one of the oldest events on tour, running for 81 years organised by volunteer group The Thunderbirds who promote the Phoenix area through sports. $12.2 million was raised for local charities through the tournament last year, $134 million raised in the tournament’s history. The galleries are huge – last year 719,179 people attended all week with 216,818 on the biggest day, Saturday.

10 of the top 25 are playing this week – no 4 Justin Thomas, No 6 Jon Rahm and No 7 Xander Shauffelle.

Who will be the UK’s fastest foursomes?

British Speedgolf – Golf Re-Imagined

 Speedgolf is setting the sporting pace in Golf. Speedgolf adds a fitness element to golf for those looking to ‘Accelerate their game’. It’s faster, more athletic and a lot more fun than the regular game!

 Speedgolf Pairs play foursome format with the aim to play a round in the lowest sum of shots as usual, but combine it with the time taken to complete the course. (participants do NOT use buggies)

The British Speedgolf Pairs Championships will take place on Saturday 8 June, at the superb Sweetwoods Park Golf club, a parkland course bordering East Sussex, Kent and West Sussex and is just 16 miles from London Gatwick. Speedgolf looks to unite two of the largest athletic communities in the world, Golf and Running! It also satisfies a myriad of today’s modern challenges to a healthy and active lifestyle. Speedgolf addresses pace of play head on and attracts those who seek a fresh fitness challenge.

Speedgolf Pairs adds a social dimension to the sport and with the foursome format, team work is essential. An early tournament start will see Speedgolf Pairs complete 18 holes in time for brunch! Pairs may be single gender or mixed and entries are expected to represent a broad range of golf and running abilities.

Pam Painter Co-Founder of British Speedgolf “Speedgolf Pairs adds a thrilling social dynamic to the sport. Whilst it is more physically demanding than the traditional golf game, providing a good work out, it is also a lot of fun. ”

Speedgolf also appeals to people who love golf but can’t find the time to play with work and family commitments – and who enjoy running and having fun. With this faster format players can complete a full 18 holes in under an hour by jogging between shots. The challenge is balancing pace with the ability to quickly and accurately play shots to get the lowest score possible.

In October 2018 a global consensus amongst leaders in public health, public policy and sport backed golf in the race to tackle physical inactivity and the prevention of a range of non-communicable diseases. British Speedgolf is thrilled to be making their contribution by presenting a golf format that adds a fitness element to golf. Another important Health dimension will see the Melanoma Fund Charity at the British Speedgolf Pairs championship offering melanoma mole checks for players and visitors and providing sunscreen.

Paula Edwards, Marketing Manager of Sweetwoods Park added “Sweetwoods Park Golf Club has been keen to support British Speedgolf and run social Speedgolf sessions every Wednesday. We are delighted to be hosting the Speedgolf National Pairs Championship at our stunning parkland course in an area of outstanding natural beauty and hope to see a great turnout.”

Many players are finding that Speedgolf has enhanced their golf performance, mainly due to the fluidity of the sport which eliminates time consuming practice swings and other rituals, particularly those with a tendency to over think their game.