Now looks likely to happen at The Open at Royal Troon. He has withdrawn from this week’s Memorial Tournament and is doubtful for the US Open at Oakmont.
He has just received $2.5 million from one of his sponsors, Muscle Pharm, who have terminated his contract early.
Final qualifying for non exempt players takes place at Walton Heath today. Those Europeans already exempt are:
Ben An, Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Daniel Berger, Rafa Cabrera Bello, Paul Casey, Darren Clarke. Jamie Donaldson, Matt Fitzpatick, Sergio Garcia, Branden Gracen Retief Goosen, Tongchai Jaidee, Martin Kaymer, Soren Kjeldsen, Russell Knox, Anribarn Lahiri, Shane Lowry. Graeme McDowell, Justin Rose, Henrik Stenson, Andy Sullivan, Jaco Van Zyl, Berndt Weisburger, Danny Willett, Chris Wood.
Danny Willett said after the presentation by Chief Executive Keith Pelley
“the tour is like a massive family so to be recognised like this is very special. It’s not just winning The Masters it’s everything that goes with it. It’s a great honour to receive this”.
A great win for Chris Wood who came from 3 shots behind overnight to score a final round outward nine of 29 including 4 birdies and an eagle at the 4th. He had a wave of momentum driving him through an up and down back nine which caused him to play the 18th hole conservatively, laying up with two wedges to secure the win.
The tournament itself lacked the big names after Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose pulled out. Five years ago seven of the top ten in the world played, this year there was only one. The mention by European Tour Chief Executive Keith Pelley last November that this was no longer the tour’s flagship event seems to have had an impact, although sponsors BMW have assured the future of the event. It now seems that it’s all about Dubai.
Against the background of the dispute over Wentworth Club – talks are still ongoing about its future – and the Residents Committee asking the European Tour for £300,000 for use of the roads on the estate last week – the tour offered £100,000, whether the championship will stay at Wentworth is debatable. Former Chairman of the European Tour Board of Directors Neil Coles, the only European to win on tour in six different decades, has had his honorary membership of Wentworth Club rescinded. As has former European Tour Chief Executive Ken Schofield.It may not be long before the European Tour decants from its headquarters there.
Chief Executive Keith Pelley has said
“a sweeping change is coming to the European Tour in the next couple of years”.
He says that the tour will be transformed by 2018. He wants more playing opportunities, more tournaments over €7 million and with “players first”, a travel friendlier schedule.
As a championship host at Wentworth last week, I had a sad feeling that it could well be the last time the event is held at Wentworth. I hope I’m wrong.
It’s been called a “watershed moment in sport”. A long awaited directional change in strategy.
Sport England’s new strategy for sport, announced this week can be read here:
Click to access sport-england-towards-an-active-nation.pdf
Importantly, it ties investment of £250 million over 4 years into grassroots sport.
Jennie Price, Chief Executive of Sport England says:
“In the next four years we’re going to dedicate more time, expertise and funding to tackle inactivity.
“We will be the largest national investor in projects for people to whom sport and physical activity is a distant thought or not even on their radar. 28%, over 1 in 4 people do less than 30 minutes physical activity in a week. We will put customers at he heart of everything and nvesting in ways to make booking easy”.
New Sports Minister David Evenett MP says “we want to use the unique power of sport to benefit more people and bring communities together and improve physical and mental wellbeing, making more contribution to the economy and society. Sport plays a crucial role in a healthier, happier nation and children should get experience of sport at an earlier age from 5 onwards”.
Dare we hope that more funding might now be available to boost golf’s participation which is now stabilising aftet decline?
The Securities and Exchange Commission has named Phil Mickelson as a “relief defendant” in a civil suit alleging Mickelson made $931,000 on a stock trade thanks to insider information from friend and famous sports bettor Billy Walters, who was arrested and charged with securities fraud as part of an investigation into trades of daily product maker Dean Foods.
Whilst Mickelson’s lawyers have said that he was an “innocent victim” in the trading and he has repaid over a million dollars back to the SEC questions about his behaviour remain. He entered the trade because he owed Billy Walters money from gambling debts. This is something which is clearly prohibited under the PGA Player rules and Ty Brocaw from the tour is investigating.
It could lead to Mickelson being suspended, as Dustin Johnson and John Daly have both been in the past.
But is the SEC pretty annoyed they can’t charge him because a recent change in the law in US v Newman? Oh yes. They won’t say it outright, but there is this telling quote from U.S. attorney Preet Bharara, at Thursday’s press conference: “Conduct we think is nefarious, and undermines faith in the market and the fairness of the markets, but will not be able to be prosecuted because of the Newman decision.”
In other words: Count your lucky stars, Phil. you wont be wearing orange like Rickie Fowler. Before the change in the law American celebrity chef Martha Stewart was sent to jail. It’s another one of Phil’s miraculous escapes.
Looking at the facts, Mickelson clearly benefited from the recent change in insider-trading laws. For a golfer who seems to believe that he’s the smartest guy in the room wherever he goes, he made a really dumb move.
Furthermore, for a guy who makes more than $50 million a year in winnings and endorsements, why would he risk his neck for a profit that falls short of what he’d make for filming a single commercial? What kind of decisions has he been making?
My theory just gathers momentum. It’s the adreneline rush of risk, of saying or doing the wrong thing or something contentious, and getting into a bit of bother, and the subsequent limelight, that motivates him. It’s why he plays his golf all over the golf course,the get out of that then situations that he likes. It’s just the latest in the long saga of Mickelson’s attention seeking dramas. Positive or negative, he just wants people to notice him. The latest in the string of pearls, the next installment will be at the US Open and then when he becomes Ryder Cup captain.
It’s becoming a soap opera.
So the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers have voted and the answer is no. By a technicality that is. And as women will still not be allowed to become members the Royal and Ancient have responded by removing the club from the Championship rota. Muirfield has hosted The Open 16 times, the last time in 2013.
This is probably why the members at this year’s Open venue, Royal Troon, have been endlessly stalling for time on their vote. If they had voted no then a hasty retreat to another venue could well have been on the cards. As it is, they will delay their vote until after the Championship in July.
We are told that the majority of members at Muirfield did vote to allow women to become members but that wasn’t enough to reach a majority. Surely the strength of support within the members should lead to a change in policy and prevent further damage. But Club Captain Henry Fairweather said “the members have voted after a thorough process and we must respect that. It is what it is”.
Well yes, it is what it is in their world. Apparently a letter has been circulating amongst the members called “The Risks”. It says “allowing lady members is going to create difficulties. It will take a very special lady to do all the things that are expected of them and the ladies membership as a whole may not meet this standard…”
Peter Alliss has waded into the controversy and supports the members. He says the thing is that wives of members play at Muirfield free of charge and they’re not going to relinquish that”. He then criticised the Royal and Ancient for their decision depriving the rota of the best course on which the championship is played. A member was apparently heard saying “the clubhouse is full of bloody women. They love getting in for nothing”.
Extraordinary.
But this is only the wives of members. The course can be played by guests or visitors and it is not illegal for a private club to make such rules. However, there is a rising tide of opinion that it should be made illegal and there is anger amongst the wider community that this has happened. Female golfers at neighbouring club have said that it is a terrible degredation of women as people in 2016 to think in the way they do.They said it can only damage the reputation of the club.
First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon MSP called the decision “indefensible”. she said “This is 2016. Women are leaders in every profession, every walk of life. The decision is wrong and damaging”.
British Prime Minister Rt Hon David Cameron MP said that “in 2016 sports clubs should be totally open to both sexes, particularly if hosting important championships”.
It is good to see the Royal and Ancient acting so quickly and decisively and refusing to support single sex clubs. Just unfortunate that Royal Troon have been playing them and keeping the Championship as a single sex club, while delaying their vote until later. Not fair that we should possibly lose two great courses from the rota in one year but the principle of this is too important and tough action is long overdue.
Loving the dinosaur in the picture roaring at Mickelson who is running – slowly – away from him.
For those of you who have a visit to Augusta National on your bucket list, the lottery to buy tickets for practice, Par 3 contest and championship days for the 2017 Masters Tournament is still open. Visit Masters.com and apply by June 25 2016.
Womens World Number 1 player Lydia Ko was present at the Opening and Closing ceremonies of the Invictus Games in Orlando, Florida last week to meet the athletes. She is pictured here with the Games Organiser Prince Harry.
She said “it is an honour to support these games and a humbling reminder that I am so fortunate to play golf for a living. Every moment was inspiring and special. I AM inspired, honoured, humbled and thankful. Thank you very much to all the men and women for your service, sacrifice and courage”.
Whilst insisting that they have done nothing wrong, the Irish Times investigative journalists have found out that three golfers are named in the so called Panama papers.
Padraig Harrington, Retief Goosen and Ian Woosnam were all named in leaked documents from the Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonesca which set up hidden offshore investment accounts.
golfweloveit 