Golf-Watson names North as vice-captain for 2014 Ryder Cup

Golf-Watson names North as vice-captain for 2014 Ryder Cup










July 3, 2013 3:27 PM


July 3 (Reuters) - United States captain Tom Watson has appointed twice former U.S. Open champion Andy North as a vice-captain for next year's Ryder Cup against holders Europe at Gleneagles in Scotland.

Watson made the announcement during a news conference ahead of this week's PGA Tour event, the Greenbrier Classic in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, where he is in the field.

"Andy knows what it takes to close the deal and that's what we need on the Ryder Cup team," said Watson. "We need players who can close the deal.

"We've been discussing the players already back and forth and the types of young players who might make the team, the types of players that actually I hope make the team.

"I'm certainly happy to have Andy on my side and in my ear helping me make the decisions that will bring this Cup back home from Europe this time. It's been way too long."


The Americans will be bidding to end a run of seven losses against Europe in the last nine editions of the biennial competition.

Their most recent defeat came in Chicago last year when the U.S. threw away a commanding four-point lead heading into the final day in what became known as the 'Meltdown at Medinah.'

North, who won his only two major titles at the U.S. Open in in 1978 and 1985, represented his country in the 1985 Ryder Cup at The Belfry in England where he lost all three of his matches.

"I was giddy, absolutely giddy over the opportunity to not only hopefully have a role to get the Cup back, but also to be able to help a dear friend," said the 63-year-old North, who has known Watson since 1967. "I'm looking forward to it.

"There's a lot of excitement to the Ryder Cup, and it means an awful lot to me. I've been lucky enough to cover it for ESPN, and I get emotional covering it.

"It's going to be a great experience, and the bottom line is we get a 'W' at the end of the week."

North, a three-times winner on the PGA Tour, has worked as a golf analyst for ESPN since 1993.

The 40th Ryder Cup will be played at Gleneagles from Sept 26-28 next year. (Reporting by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing by Simon Evans)

Is Anchoring Your Putter Really Cheating?

Is Anchoring Your Putter Really Cheating?










Adam Fonseca July 3, 2013 3:29 PM


COMMENTARY | One of the more annoying questions circulating around golf - other than "Is Tiger Back?" - is whether or not anchoring your putter is "cheating". For the sake of this holiday weekend, let me do my best to lay this argument to rest once and for all.





No; anchoring your putter is not cheating. For now.

When the USGA and R&A proposed a ban to the anchored stroke earlier in the year, professional and amateur golfers alike were thrown one hell of a curve ball. While a very small percentage of amateur golfers use a long- or belly-putter on the weekend (I've personally only known one person to do so in 20 years of playing golf), some very notable names on the PGA Tour were reaping the benefits of the anchored stroke.

There is no data that I - or anyone else - can find to prove that an anchored putting stroke is more beneficial to the player compared to a traditional stroke. Neither the USGA nor R&A had any data either, but that's never stopped them from making a decision before. Whatever.


The PGA Tour initially decided to stand by its players and opposed the anchored stroke ban, which really didn't do anything more than give golf fans something to debate for a few weeks. Ultimately, as everyone assumed would happen, Commissioner Tim Finchem and the PGA Tour changed their minds and will now accept the proposed ban. Somewhere Adam Scott is crying in a green jacket.

During this whole process, however, PGA Tour players like Scott, Keegan Bradley, Tim Clark, Webb Simpson, Carl Pettersson and Ernie Els continued on their merry ways while using an anchored putting stroke. The players undoubtedly heard their fair share of criticism at every tournament, often being accused of "cheating" or breaking the rules despite the fact that the ban would not be enforced until 2016.

So where does that leave the rest of us Average Joe weekend duffers? Recreational golfers can use the anchored stroke until 2024, although I suspect we will be seeing putter handles jammed into beer guts for much longer. No one should be surprised by that. While I'm not suggesting that weekend warriors are dishonest on the golf course, there is definitely a disconnect between what Rules of Golf are followed and which are not.

Not convinced? When was the last time you discovered your ball was out-of-bounds and walked back to the tee box to re-hit? Chances are you just took a drop, a penalty shot and moved on. Technically, that's cheating. However, no one in your foursome will say anything since that "stretching of the rules" has become second nature in recreational golf.



Adam Fonseca has covered professional golf since 2005. His work can also be found on the Back9Network. Follow Adam on Twitter at @chicagoduffer.

Watson names North as vice-captain for 2014 Ryder Cup

Watson names North as vice-captain for 2014 Ryder Cup










July 3, 2013 3:29 PM


(Reuters) - United States captain Tom Watson has appointed twice former U.S. Open champion Andy North as a vice-captain for next year's Ryder Cup against holders Europe at Gleneagles in Scotland.

Watson made the announcement during a news conference ahead of this week's PGA Tour event, the Greenbrier Classic in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, where he is in the field.

"Andy knows what it takes to close the deal and that's what we need on the Ryder Cup team," said Watson. "We need players who can close the deal.

"We've been discussing the players already back and forth and the types of young players who might make the team, the types of players that actually I hope make the team.

"I'm certainly happy to have Andy on my side and in my ear helping me make the decisions that will bring this Cup back home from Europe this time. It's been way too long."


The Americans will be bidding to end a run of seven losses against Europe in the last nine editions of the biennial competition.

Their most recent defeat came in Chicago last year when the U.S. threw away a commanding four-point lead heading into the final day in what became known as the 'Meltdown at Medinah.'

North, who won his only two major titles at the U.S. Open in 1978 and 1985, represented his country in the 1985 Ryder Cup at The Belfry in England where he lost all three of his matches.

"I was giddy, absolutely giddy over the opportunity to not only hopefully have a role to get the Cup back, but also to be able to help a dear friend," said the 63-year-old North, who has known Watson since 1967. "I'm looking forward to it.

"There's a lot of excitement to the Ryder Cup, and it means an awful lot to me. I've been lucky enough to cover it for ESPN, and I get emotional covering it.

"It's going to be a great experience, and the bottom line is we get a 'W' at the end of the week."

North, a three-times winner on the PGA Tour, has worked as a golf analyst for ESPN since 1993.

The 40th Ryder Cup will be played at Gleneagles from Sept 26-28 next year.

(Reporting by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing by Simon Evans)

Allen holds two-shot lead at U.S. Senior Open

Allen holds two-shot lead at U.S. Senior Open

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July 13, 2013 9:27 PM


(Reuters) - American Michael Allen withstood four bogeys on the back nine to cling to a two-stroke lead over surging compatriots Kenny Perry and Fred Funk after three rounds of the U.S. Senior Open in Omaha, Nebraska, on Saturday.

Allen, who seized a record five-shot lead after a brilliant seven-under-par 63 at Omaha Country Club on Friday, was 10 under par and still leading by five at the turn on another hot day at the hilly layout.

Back-to-back bogeys from the 10th were balanced by birdies at 13 and 14, but bogeys at 16 and 18 put Allen at two-over 72 for the day for a total of eight-under-par 202.

At the par-three 16th Allen did not get up and down from the greenside bunker, and a wayward drive at the last sent him on his way to a closing bogey.

"Today I had a few more bads than goods," said Allen. "But it's fun. It's nice to be in the lead."

Perry closed strong with birdies at 16 and 17 for a six-under 64 that put him on 204 along with Funk, who birdied the last two holes for 67.

"I played unbelievable today," said Perry, who two weeks ago won the Senior Players Championship. "I hit every fairway, green. It was an easy six-under. It was just stress-free."

Perry began the round 10 shots off the lead.


"I went from the outhouse to the penthouse," he said about a round aided by greens softened from watering to combat the extreme heat.

Funk, winner of the 2009 championship at Crooked Stick, sank a 35-foot birdie at the last to tie for second with Perry.

Two more strokes adrift was 1995 U.S. Open winner Corey Pavin, who posted bogey-free 64 for 206, one stroke better than fellow-American Rocco Mediate, who carded a 72.

"I think there was a few more accessible pins today so I think it played probably a little easier with the pin placements," said Pavin.

Ten players were tied on two-under-par 208 including Mark O'Meara (70), Tom Lehman (70), Steve Pate (67) and Taiwan's Lu Chien-soon (65).

Sounding more like a weekend golfer than an accomplished pro, Pavin said he was still grappling with the same things with his swing.

"I've been working on trying to get the club more inside," noted Pavin.

"I've been doing that for about 40 years now and I'm still working on it."

(Reporting by Larry Fine; Editing by Gene Cherry/Greg Stutchbury)

Summerhays fires 62 for lead, Johnson lurking

Summerhays fires 62 for lead, Johnson lurking

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July 13, 2013 9:28 PM


(Reuters) - American Daniel Summerhays fired a nine-under-par 62 to grab a two-stroke lead over Canadian David Hearn heading into Sunday's final round of the John Deere Classic in Silvis, Illinois.

Defending champion Zach Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner and overnight co-leader, was lurking just off the pace another shot back at 16-under-par 197 after posting 67 at TPC Deere Run in the third round on Saturday.

Summerhays, looking for his first PGA Tour win, had 10 birdies against a lone bogey in ideal scoring conditions, using a string of three in a row from the 15th hole to vault to the top of the leaderboard.

"I think when I'm playing well the mentality is make as many birdies as you can," Summerhays told reporters.

"I'm really looking forward to (Sunday). I'm playing really well."


Hearn, also seeking his maiden tour victory, posted eight birdies and one bogey in his 64, running off three successive birdies over the same stretch of holes from 15.

Tied for fourth on 198 were Americans J.J. Henry (65) and Jerry Kelly (66).

Australian Matt Jones and Americans Nicholas Thompson and Chris Kirk were another shot back. Two-time U.S. Junior Amateur champion Jordan Spieth, 19, was among three players on 200, six shots off the pace after three rounds.

Summerhays blew a two-shot lead during the final round of last year's Mayakoba Golf Classic in Mexico but said he was more relaxed this time.

"I know there's going to be obstacles and challenges, as there always are," he said.

"There are always things that stand in your way. But I'm just excited to see what those are and deal with them."

Johnson sank not one but two massive putts on Saturday, a 60-foot eagle putt on the par-five second hole then a 42-foot birdie putt on the par-four 14th, to surge into contention.

"I certainly think there were a lot more positives out there than negatives," Johnson said. "My putter has been great. Even the ones I've missed have been great."

(Reporting by Larry Fine in New York; Editing by Gene Cherry/Greg Stutchbury)

Golf-Issue of single-sex clubs is divisive, says R&A

Golf-Issue of single-sex clubs is divisive, says R&A

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July 17, 2013 7:57 AM



By Ed Osmond

GULLANE, Scotland, July 17 (Reuters) - British Open organisers the R&A are aware the issue of gender and single-sex golf clubs is a divisive one which it is finding increasingly difficult to handle, said chief executive Peter Dawson.

The 142nd British Open starts on Thursday at Muirfield, one of three male-only member clubs on the tournament's rota, and the R&A has again come under pressure to change its stance.

"Obviously the whole issue of gender and single-sex clubs has been pretty much beaten to death recently," Dawson told a news conference.

"And we do, I assure you, understand that this is divisive. It's a subject we're finding increasingly difficult, to be honest."

Dawson said the R&A (Royal & Ancient) had been at pains recently to try to explain some of the facts around the issue.

"Single-sex clubs are in a very small minority in the UK," he added. "Half of them are women only, half of them are men only. They're perfectly legal. In our view they don't do anyone any harm.

"The media are, with seemingly boundless energy and enthusiasm, giving out the message that this is an issue and that such clubs should be condemned to extinction and we shouldn't be using one to stage the Open Championship.

"We understand that view," said Dawson. (Editing by Tony Jimenez)

Golf-McIlroy hits back at Faldo on eve of British Open

Golf-McIlroy hits back at Faldo on eve of British Open

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July 17, 2013 8:51 AM


By Tony Jimenez

GULLANE, Scotland, July 17 (Reuters) - Rory McIlroy hit back at Nick Faldo on Wednesday after the six-times major winner told the young Northern Irishman earlier in the week that he had to devote more time to golf.

McIlroy has had a troubled season after changing clubs at the start of the year following the signing of a mega-bucks deal with Nike and he was clearly irritated by Faldo's comments.

"He said I should be at the course nine to five," the world number two told reporters on the eve of the 142nd British Open at Muirfield.

"I actually was on the range at 6.15 (yesterday) and got out of the gym at 6:15, a 12-hour day compared to his eight-hour day.

"Nick should know how hard this game is at times and he's been in our position before. He should know how much work that we all put into it."

Englishman Faldo, who turns 56 on Thursday and is playing in the Open this week for the first time in three years, hinted on Monday that McIlroy was spending more time than he should on off-the-course activities.

"You have a window of opportunity, that's my only words of wisdom to Rory," said the veteran who now works as a full-time television commentator. "You have say a 20-year window as an athlete - concentrate on golf, nothing else.

"Hopefully you have another 40 years to enjoy it so just concentrate on your golf."

McIlroy acknowledged that Faldo was not trying to unduly criticise him.


"He probably said a million other things in that interview," said the 24-year-old. "He obviously said something about me and that's the thing that's been picked up by everyone.

"I know how these things go, I know he wasn't trying to get on my case at all. He was just offering words of advice in some way.

"(But) I think he has to remember how hard this game can be at times."

McIlroy is without a victory since the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai in November, a win that made sure he ended the year as the number one golfer in Europe and the United States.

"I think the game's like life, you're going to go through highs and you're going to go through lows. It's just about trying to work your way out of the lows," said the twice major winner.

"I haven't played my best golf this year but I've showed signs that it is there. It's just a matter of trying to do that more often.

"Sooner or later it will turn around and I'll play the golf that everyone knows I'm capable of and the golf I know that's capable of winning major championships," said McIlroy.

McIlroy has left no stone unturned in his bid to prepare for this week's event at Muirfield.

"I played 18 holes last Monday and then 27 on Tuesday," he explained. "Then I played 18 this Sunday, 18 on Monday, 18 yesterday and I'll play nine today.

"That's a lot of holes. I've also got a new driver in the bag...it's a different head shape, more of a pear shape, but it encourages the club face to close a little bit more.

"My bad drive this year has been losing it to the right so this is encouraging the club face to square up on impact and obviously I'm not getting that right shot anymore which is a huge plus." (Editing by Justin Palmer)