European Tour - Ballantine's Championship

(Travelling this week and having very little time to write up... )
The last couple of years the feeling was that the Ballantine's Championship could only grow bigger and better in the future. But a combination of lacklustre performances by the Korean (male) golfing ellite over the last year plus the tragi-comical antics of their northern neighbour, Kim Jong-un, certainly took away some of the gloss (and some of the star names) from this year's event. Only the Johnson&Johnson forfait has chopped at least 4 points from the winner's owgr prize this year, but even so, the final field is not too bad at all, with the same owgr strength as last year. And although I understand to some extent the concerns of the two US players, I still think their reaction was a bit exagerated, but I don't want to get into politics here (same goes for Quiros who made a similar move earlier on)...

Would be interesting to see if the Asian golfers will continue their ascendency and success in these co-sanctioned events with another win this week. Wiesberger won it in some style last year, but his form has been less than stellar in the last period of time and I would be a bit surprised if he will contend again on Sunday, but who knows... King Louis is the biggest star of the show, but he is another one that couldn't quite find his A game this season and it's about time for him to make a move and get back on form. Hard to pick any clear favorite, but it won't be too much of a surprise if one of the many Koreans will feature among the contenders, and have also a feeling that an Aussie may do well here this week...

Probably will only be able to check the LB sporadically the next couple of days, but hope it will be a good tournament...

WOW!!
Birdie-birdie-birdie-birdie start for Oosthuizen...

It's amazing how these American golfers are always praising their men in military service for their work overseas, but are afraid to go to Korea to play a few days golf.

Very good point lorus,
The whole "Military Appreciation" shtick is a total sham.

King Louis has hit the back-nine buffers.

Another good start for David Howell - he'll capitalise one day, won't he?

Good field in the Challenge Tour event in Madrid also . . . .

If could have anyones demeanour on the course it would Oosty's. Super cool. And while we are it I'll have his golf swing as well.

Not to mention his wife . . . . .

Forget the tournament in Korea for a moment... just checked the LB for the event on the Japan Tour, and the 66-year old Jumbo Ozaki is leading that field of youngsters by 3 shots, after shooting a phenomenal 4-under his age (62)!!!

How much that says about the strength of the Japanese tour and how much about the legendary Jumbo, it's another question...

There's a strong rumour Billy Payne is eyeing Jumbo Ozaki for a Masters invitation for 2014 . . . . . .

606 favourite Philip Archer in second place after (most of) two rounds in Spain.

Watched a bit of this today...........boring as hell.

The regular European Tour seems to be dying a slow death, if it weren't for the majors and WGC's it wouldn't be worth watching at all. Plus half of the events aren't even in Europe!

No wonder all the top players are hot footing it to America......

Totally agree, and it seems a lot of Euro tour players who have tour cards in Europe but not in the USA are seeking part time membership in the states and who can blame them....The European tour may need these players to play badly in the states.

Jesus H Corbett, I think that's the first time someone has replied to me on these boards without having a go!

Golf boring as hell eh JPX

You got it Brahma

princedracula wrote:... and have also a feeling that an Aussie may do well here this week...

...yeah, I specifically had Wade Ormsby in mind when I wrote that...

It's time for Noren or Fraser to score another win and they could make a significant move towards securing tickets to both the Players and US Open if they do that. Wouldn't mind if Pablito wins it in the end, he's also well due another win...

Great 5xbirdie finish for Rumford, he could be another strong Aussie contender tomorrow...

Still catching up with what went on these last few days...
I guess most people already saw this from Oosty on the 2nd day, a ~500 yard drive...

http://www.europeantour.com/videoaudio/video/index.html

EDIT: ...well, seems you'll have to browse back through those videos a couple of pages and look for Oosthuizen's 500 yard drive...

...and Rumford wins it in a(nother) playoff from Fraser and Peter Whiteford. A couple of double bogeys have killed Noren's challenge. So, another very good week for the Aussies, will all this really be part of a more significant and longer term revival of the Australian golf...?

Some very good news also for the Japanese golf this morning, with the very talented 21-year old Hideki Matsuyama wining his first event as a professional. He only turned pro a couple of weeks ago (last week finished T10 his 1st pro event) after a brilliant amateur career. And at least in contrast with his much hyped countryman, Ryo Ishikawa, it gives you the feeling that he followed a much better approach in developing his career. Good luck to him, he may very well be the next big thing that Japanese golf really needs to become relevant again in the world of golf...

Don't tell Billy Payne about Matsuyama . . . . .

Anyone have any further details about Noren having to take a penalty on his second hole today "when his ball moved a fraction as he addressed his par putt" according to europeantour.com? Noren is turning into a bit of a nearly man - thirty years old now and is he just too inconsistent to take his game to the proverbial next level?

Along the lines of discussions elsewhere, Rumford is another who earned a PGA Tour card and was unable to retain it.

Had about enough of Billy Payne &Co. for a while now...

Interesting thing is that Matsuyama will overtake Ishikawa in the rankings after this...

No idea what happened to Noren there on the 2nd hole, and yes, he is becoming a bit of a nearly man, there's something with his psyche that makes him 'lose it' too many times when it matters...