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How come we don’t Walk the singles? Reflections from Martin V.
Sep 13 2011 Posted in Golf News, Martin Vousden by GoKartThought for the Day
Borrow money from pessimists – they don’t expect it back
A singular talent
What is it with the Americans and singles? In all the team competitions – Walker, Curtis, Ryder and Solheim Cups, it doesn’t matter what sort of advantage our home team builds over the first few series of matches, when the singles are played the Yanks will come back hard.
It happened again over the weekend at Royal Aberdeen in the Walker Cup when, going into the man on man final series of matches, Great Britain & Ireland had such a commanding lead – 10.5 to 5.5 – that they only needed three points from a possible 12 to regain the trophy. It should have been a cakewalk and yet during the course of an often painful afternoon, red figures went up on the leaderboard with frightening regularity before GB&I eventually staggered over the line, grateful to end up with a 14-12 scoreline that was just enough for victory.
As will be demonstrated again in the Solheim Cup which starts in 11 days, it ain’t over, as our transatlantic cousins like to remind us too often for comfort, until the fat lady sings.
Tiger is tight
As if he didn’t have enough recent problems to contend with, news comes from across the Atlantic that in a poll to (more…)
And you thought that last round you had was tough!?
Aug 26 2011 Posted in Golf News, Golf Quotes by GoKart
In addition to these rules, German aircraft from Norway would fly on missions to northern England; because of the icy weather conditions, the barrels of their guns had a small dab of wax to protect them. As they crossed the coast, they would clear their guns by firing a few rounds at the golf courses. Golfers were urged to take cover.
Add a comment TweetThe last major of the year. Martin is mournful. Bradley is beaming.
Aug 25 2011 Posted in Golf News, Martin Vousden by GoKartThought for the Day
Next weekend, help one of your friends to stay put – it’s a whole lot easier than helping them to move house
The best major?
Once again the USPGA Championship ended in a dramatic playoff and the event itself became one of the most exciting of the calendar year – although for absolute drama the Masters has the edge for 2011 because it’s difficult to top the winner birdying the last four holes to snatch the crown, as Charl Schwartzel did back in the mists of time that is April this year. It seems ridiculous, therefore, that in some quarters it was being argued that the event should lose its status as a major. These nonsensical rumblings were being aired in the States before the final round, largely on the basis that the three leading contenders were all unknowns and that consequently public interest, and therefore TV viewing figures (and, of course, advertising revenue) would all be greatly reduced. Thankfully, what we saw provided all the excitement of which pro sport is capable at its peak, more drama than a season of Shakespeare and enough human interest to keep an army of psychologists employed for months to come.
Of the three unknowns heading the field going into the final round, Brendan Steele fulfilled the role of disappearing off the radar screen quicker than (more…)
Add a comment TweetTales of Tiger’s other ex
Aug 09 2011 Posted in Golf News, Martin Vousden by GoKartThe Martin Vousden Column:
Thought for the Day
Official figures show that 72% of all statistics are wrong
The bagman’s woes
Despite a plethora of dramatic golf events being played all around the world, the most talked about news over the last couple of weeks has concerned caddies. First came the announcement that Steve Williams, the pompous and self-regarding Neanderthal from New Zealand, had been sacked by Tiger Woods, and then we had the Twitter row between Rory McIlroy and Jay Townsend about the young Irishman’s caddy, JP Fitzgerald.
I will deal with Williams first because frankly, I want to get him out of my mind as quickly as possible. On hearing the news that his services were no longer required by the golfer formerly known as god, Williams responded with all the grace, charm and dignity with which we have come to associate him – that is, none. In a statement of staggering self-importance he said: ‘The last 18 months have been a particularly difficult time caddying for Tiger, working through his scandal, and he’s had a new coach and swing change and I’ve stuck by him through thick and thin and been incredibly loyal. Basically you could say I’ve wasted the last two years of my life [notice, incidentally, how 18 months has now become two years]. (more…)
Add a comment TweetDarren dusts himself off. Martin Vousden on The Open
Jul 22 2011 Posted in Golf News, Martin Vousden by GoKartThought for the Day
Never test the depth of the water with both feet
Cockles of the heart warmed all round
It was emphatically not the most dramatic Open Championship ever – once Dustin Johnson knocked it OB at Suez the destiny of the claret jug was pretty much sealed – but by heaven it was one of the most emotional. And in retrospect, having had a few hours to come to terms with the unlikely enormity of Darren Clarke’s achievement, probably the most surprising element of all was his serenity over those final two superb rounds of golf. And serenity really does seem to be the only appropriate word. It seems fitting, perhaps, that in a week when we both celebrated and mourned Seve Ballesteros, the man who believed absolutely in ‘Il Destino’ when it came to winning The Open, that an overweight, ageing champion with a history of both triumph and tragedy was seemingly destined to capture his own slice of golfing immortality in the 140th playing of the event.
Once again we have witnessed sport’s endless capacity to produce the most emotional if improbable stories, and the one with the greatest resonance is that of the old prize-fighter who comes off the ropes when he should be going down for the final count, to take his greatest victory. And without wanting to suggest that Darren is a washed-up has-been (more…)
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