World number one tennis doubles star Jamie Murray returned to his home town of Dunblane, Scotland to receive honorary memberships of Dunblane GC for him and his brother Andy, the two time Wimbledon, US Open and Olympic singles tennis champion. The 18th hole is now called Murrays hame.
Australian Marc Leishman, the world no 35, has pulled put of representing his country at the Rio Olympics on the grounds of the zika virus, which is an epidemic in Brazil at the moment. Leishman’s wife Audrey nearly died in April of last year from toxic shock syndrome and her doctors have advised that her poor immunity is a problem. They advise that she is still too susceptible to infection for her to risk travelling to the games. Leishman has decided to pull out, a decision which is supported by the PGA of Australia. This follows on from fellow countryman Adam Scott’s controversial decision not to play. Jason day has indicated that he will play, which leaves Marcis Fraser or Matt Jones as the most likely replacements to represent Australia at the event from August 11-14. Australian veteran Greg Norman has also parted compamy from the Chinese Olympic team who, he was coaching for Rio.
German sportswear company Adidas are to sell off their brands Taylor Made, Adams Golf and Ashworth. They plan to focus their golf business purely on Adidas’ own line of apparel and footwear.
Their golf business has had a drop in revenue from 1.34 billion Euros in 2012 to just 902 million last year. Taylor Made, which they acquired in 1997, is considered the most profitable part of the business. Currently World No 1 Jason Day, Justin Rose and Sergio Garcia play with their equipment.
Last week Tiger Woods plummeted to number 508 in the World Rankings. The last time he was over 500 was in 1996 when he was still an amateur.
Although he has signed up to compete in the US Open at Oakmont, a course Jordan Spieth last week called “the hardest course in America” it remains to be seen if he will actially tee up. Tiger seems to have no definite timetable for returning to full time professional golf and is drifting in freefall.
The offer from his original coach, Butch Harmon, to teach him again appears to still be on the table now he no longer is in Phil Mickelson’s stable. I for one wish Tiger would grab this offer with both hands and let Butch get to work with him rebuilding his shattered swing and psyche.
Rory McIlroy has decided to skip two big events to give himself the best chance at the US Open and Open Championship. He has pulled out of the European Tour’s flagship event, the BMW PGA at Wentworth, in order to avoid playing four weeks in a row in the run up to the US Open at Oakmont. He will also not travel to the WGC Bridgestone Invitational at Akron Ohio, chosing to support the French Open. The European Tour are not sanctioning the Brodgestone event because it has been scheduled opposite the Paris event.
McIlroy has also been measured up for the Irish Olympic team uniform, made by New Balance rahter than his own sponsors Nike.
Two official starters, Matt Coker and David Lancaster, will now succeed Ivor Robson, who retired last year as first tee announcer at the Open Championship.
First Minister for Scotland Nicola Sturgeon has called on Royal Troon Golf Club to admit women members before it stages the Open Championship in July.
“There should be nowhere in Scotland off limits to women and I hope Royal Troon reflects that”. The Royal and Ancient admitted its first women members in 2014, and Royal Troon is still consulting on the issue, but it looks unlikely that a decision will be taken before the end of the year. If that is the case Mrs Sturgeon may choose to follow the lead of her predecessor Alex Salmond who refused to attend the Open at Muirfield in 2013 because of its single sex policy.
A spokesman for Royal Troon Golf Club explained that the Troon Ladies Golf Club also play on the links and there is a joint Championship Committee looking after the arrangements for this year’s Open, one venue with shared facilities.
Nice try, but it is the club itself who are hosting the Championship. Their consultation process has been dragging on for far too long. A decision should be made now.
It is hard to believe that it is five years ago today that the word lost the genius who was Seve Ballesteros. Continued condolences to his family Carmen, Miguel and Javier. Good to know that the regional airport in Cantabria has now been renamed Seve Ballesteros-Santander in his honour.
This month golf raised its profile considerably by a number of initiatives in Parliament.
Firstly Danny Willett was congratulated in a motion tabled by MP for Sheffield Helley Louise Haigh who said it was a golden age for Sheffield sportsmen and women and Danny’s success will encourage people across the Uk to take up the great game of golf.
On 13 April the Economic Value of Golf was debated and Sports Minister Rt Hon David Evennett responded to the points raised. You can read the Hansard extract at http://goo.gl/PQmHVS
Dame Laura Davies became the first Honorary President of the new Parliamentary Golf Group. She said “this group’s deliberately broad aims and independent role in the sport mean they can tackle issues others cannot”.
European Tour officials visited parliament to present to MPs how to maximise participation in the game.They presented that golf is a game for everyone and they were helping to reach a wider audience and increase participation.
Ping have joined Sky Sports and the Royal and Ancient as partners of the Parliamentary Golf Group.
The picture above shows Labour Party leader Rt Hon Jeremy Corbyn MP joining in the chipping and putting competition which took place this on St Stephen’s Green outside the Palace of Westminster to launch National Golf Month. This also gave MPs an opportunity to learn more about golf in their constituencies.
Karl McCartney MP, Member for Lincoln who is Chairman of the Parliamentary Golf Group said he was “delighted that they can support National Golf Month in May”.
More information is at nationalgolfmonth.com.
