Planet Golf

International golf news stories in brief

 A year to go

RYDER CUP captains Colin Montgomerie and Corey Pavin were at Celtic Manor in Wales yesterday to play an exhibition match on The Twenty Ten Course to mark the “Year to Go” celebrations. Montgomerie played alongside radio presenter and avid golf fan Chris Evans while Pavin teamed up with Welsh opera star Bryn Terfel for the nine-hole match.“The countdown to The 2010 Ryder Cup now starts in earnest, and the ‘Year to Go’ exhibition should help build that excitement even further,” Montgomerie said.

Siding with Clarke’s viewpoint

LAST WEEK it was all about golf returning to the Olympics after a 112-year absence and before that it was the “unwarranted” ripple caused by Rory McIlroy when he said he would represent Britain rather than Ireland at the 2016 Games.

Perhaps I just don’t get it but I don’t see what else McIlroy was supposed to say when he was recently asked the Olympic allegiance question.

The 20-year-old was born in the United Kingdom and therefore holds a British passport, so naturally his first option would be to represent Britain.

The waters are muddied slightly as amateur golf in Ireland, like rugby, represents the whole island of Ireland and players such as McIlroy have previously donned the green Irish jersey with pride.

As for golf’s inclusion to the Olympics at the Rio Games I believe those that lobbied so fervently missed a trick.

Sergio Garcia and others might be drooling at the mouth at the prospect of winning a gold medal, but maybe it’s the traditionalist in me, but I side with Darren Clarke’s viewpoint in that the world’s top amateurs should represent their countries not the professionals.

Surely that would have bolstered the “reaching out to the grassroots” argument too.

Ballesteros interview on BBC

SEVE BALLESTEROS will feature on BBC1's Inside Sportprogramme tomorrow night (10.45pm) where he speaks candidly to legendary commentator Peter Alliss about his rehabilitation following a brain tumour.

The mercurial Spaniard, who announced his competitive retirement from golf at the 2007 British Open, said he hopes to play one final British Open at St Andrews next year. In the interview with Alliss the 52-year-old also says he doesn’t want sympathy for his ill health.

“This thing that happened to me is a very little thing compared to other people who have tougher times,” insisted the five-time major winner, who has undergone surgery and chemotherapy.

“They didn’t have the opportunity to live life so intensely and as well as I did. I’ve had a very good life.

“Life is like sport. You have to fight every day and the key is to never give up,” added Ballesteros.

Jordan asked to butt out

HE MAY be recognised as the best basketball player ever, but even Michael Jordan’s cigar-chomping ways would not be tolerated at last week’s Presidents Cup in San Francisco where he was told to butt out.

Jordan, who led the Chicago Bulls to six NBA championships and was recently inducted to basketball’s Hall of Fame, was brought in by the captain of the American team Fred Couples as an “assistant, assistant” and “motivator” for last week’s event at Harding Park against the Greg Norman-led International side.

The smoking issue arose when a San Francisco city official noticed a picture in the San Francisco Examiner of Jordan pulling on a cigar and because Harding Park is a municipal course the official felt obliged to take the matter further.

“I sent an email to the PGA Tour director,” city recreation and park general manager Phil Ginsburg said.

“It was sort of a gentle nudge reminding them that smoking is illegal and that we would appreciate their support.”

All to play for as race hots up

RORY MCILROY might be sitting comfortably at the top of the Race to Dubai standings with over

€2 million in earnings, but with just six events between now and the season-ending Dubai World Championship, there are a number of interesting scenarios involving Irish players further down the pecking order.

Pádraig Harrington (21st), Graeme McDowell (37) and Peter Lawrie (47) all look assured of maintaining their place inside the top 60 and booking their ticket to Dubai next month.

Gareth Maybin boosted his chances after Sunday’s cheque of €63,700 moved him up seven places to 48th, while Damien McGrane needs to watch his back in 50th. At present Darren Clarke is outside the bubble in 66th and will need some strong performances, starting at this week’s Portugal Masters

The fight to secure playing rights for next year is also prevalent at this time of the season and Gary Murphy made a strong move in the right direction when he tied fourth in Madrid alongside Maybin.

He jumped 25 places to 120th and within touching distance of the top 115 who will keep their tour cards.

Mickelson gets fright of his life

BY ALL accounts Phil Mickelson got the fright of his life when his wife Amy made a surprise visit to downtown Fairmont in San Francisco during the Presidents Cup.

Jay Haas, the American assistant team captain, takes up the story. “She (Amy) was in his (Phil’s) room and he didn’t know it,” said Haas. “He was lying on the bed and she popped out, and it scared the crap out of him.” Haas added: “She was like this angel that came in. Everybody just gravitated to her. Phil wanted her to eat, but she couldn’t because of all the girls around her.”

Michael Jordan, the Americans’ “Mr Motivator” mentioned Amy’s battle with the disease and her strength in making the trip to San Francisco in one of his speeches.