Can anyone stop Rory at Wentworth?

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What an amazing performance from Rory McIlroy at Quail Hollow, especially breaking his own course record on Saturday with that incredible 61 including a run of 9 birdies in 10 holes. I managed to see most of it on TV over the weekend and it was compulsive viewing.

So will Rory win again in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth this week? Myself and Mrs Blue are staying in Ascot on Wednesday night and heading to Wentworth early on Thursday for the first days play. Would like to follow Rory around the course but with record crowds predicted no doubt several thousand other spectators will have the same idea! Anyone else on v2 going to Wentworth to watch?

Not exactly a footballer, but former Top Ten ATP tennis player Mardy Fish narrowly missed out on the current series of US Open (Golf!) Local Qualifying. He might be an alternate - that's a pretty high standard.

Think some of the old Dutch footballers (sometimes playing the dunhill) are close to scratch as well.

pedro wrote:Footballer has-beens and golf seem to go hand in hand...

http://app.europeantour.com/webapp/news/newsid=256554.html

Not really surprising many footballers/former footballers do quite well...
they don't exactly have a 9-5 5 days a week job during their playing career
their close season coincides with long days when courses are typically at their best
they're competitive, determined and generally fit
when they retire (and before) they have plenty of cash available to have access to top coaches and the best of equipment.

from the Pro-am draw looks like Brooks Koepka is in for a treat. The Scottish LGU wanted Muirhead to turn pro (she was that good) but she chose curling instead.

What is the purpose of this Pro-am with so many celebrities? I can understand if Joe Public has entered a competition to play a round with a top golfer, that's fine. Or if you have contributed to charity. Is it to get the public through the gates on a non competition day? Or are the celebs putting their hands in their pockets?

super_realist wrote:

raycastleunited wrote:

pedro wrote:Footballer has-beens and golf seem to go hand in hand...

http://app.europeantour.com/webapp/news/newsid=256554.html

A lot of them are pretty good. I think Dalgleish's house overlooks Birkdale, Hansen is low single figures, Shevchenko is lower than scratch, Julian Dicks and Roy Wegerle both had + handicaps as well.

I'm very skeptical of their actual handicaps. Shevchenko and Kafelnikov have proven to be absolutely horrendous in tour events, shooting in the high 80's and  90's more often than not.

I played golf with Julian Dicks a couple of times when he used to play in our golf society. It was at the time of the end of his West Ham career when he wasn't able to play because of knee injury. He told us that for the last two years of his West Ham contract he picked up 800k and in the end he didn't even have to turn up at Upton Park for training. Chicken feed I guess in comparison with what Premier League footballers earn these days but being on the golf course every day and getting paid the best part of eight grand a week for the priviledge didn't seem a bad sort of life to us.

Like most professional sports people he had a decent amount of ability of that there was no doubt. And fair play to him with having the time to practice and play every day he got down to scratch and had high hopes of turning professional. He used to regularly shoot 3 or 4 under to clean up in our society days, but a sponsors invite to a professional tournament in Holland which resulted in a disastrous first round score of 92 brought the realisation that a successful pro career was never going to be on the cards.

He ran a pub near Colchester and managed Grays Athletic for a while. Last I heard he was managing the West Ham ladies side. Always enjoyed his company and the footballing tales from his playing career, no doubt some of which were a touch exaggerated with the passing of time!

Similar situation to that guy from Hull Blue, can't remember his name.
A mate of mine played in the Europro, said he was stinking. Like a lot of footballers, just a decent club golfer who gets the benefits of a few invites.

Jimmy Bullard perhaps SR?, maybe he should stick to I'm a celebrity...Get me out of here!

Cheers Blue. Nice story!

Has anyone ever played with a European or PGAT tour player?

I have played with a Europro player and a tartan tour player, both seemed ok but nothing spectacular.

I played with a Challenge Tour player and a europro tour player, and in both occasions there was nothing spectacular. They generally took one less club than me (eg on a par 3 if I was hitting 6 iron they were hitting 7) and were no more than 10-20 yards longer off the tee. Difference was they made hardly any mistakes, and holed a few putts. There was a European Tour player at my old club. I played a few holes with him from time to time and he didn't really stand out. He spent most of his time at the short game practice area, I'd wander over and the green would be covered in shiny new z-stars, some of which found their way into my golf bag. Certainly the way these guys strike the ball is much closer to me than the ball striking of McIlroy etc I've seen when I've been to the Open.

Only time I've been wowed on course was when this Austrian kid played behind us on holiday, he was right up behind our slow 4 ball and I was more interested watching him than my mates. Eventually he played alongside us for 2 holes as we let him play through, and I was amazed at the effortless power he generated. Turned out to be Bernt Weisburger.

McLaren wrote:Has anyone ever played with a European or PGAT tour player?

I have played with a Europro player and a tartan tour player, both seemed ok but nothing spectacular.

Apart from that round at Turnberry in 2005 or 6 with a young up and coming Northern Irish lad, I have actually played 9 holes with a Major Champion

Hard to beat that one JAS, PLayed with a few Europro players, been mildly impressed by some, laughed at a few others who were simply deluding themselves
Played with a Scottish Internationalist and took him down the last, who really rallied to win a few holes. He was lucky to get a half and a British Amateur champ, who was deadly around the green, but far too nice to be a pro.

There is a chasm between all of these players and even journeymen tour players like Simon Kahn or Steve Webster.

Jas

You played with Gareth Maybin, please tell us more?


Ray

Wow, you must be good. I was totally outgunned by the pro's I have played with. Every aspect of their game was just so superior to mine that it was actually a little disheartening.

McLaren wrote:Jas

You played with Gareth Maybin, please tell us more?


Ray

Wow, you must be good.  I was totally outgunned by the pro's I  have played with.  Every aspect of their game was just so superior to mine that it was actually a little disheartening.

Are you sure you have actually played golf Mac? It's that one with a stick, a ball and a hole...

McLaren wrote:Jas

You played with Gareth Maybin, please tell us more?


Ray

Wow, you must be good.  I was totally outgunned by the pro's I  have played with.  Every aspect of their game was just so superior to mine that it was actually a little disheartening.

I don't recall Gareth Maybin winning the U.S.Open Mac.

So what you're saying is that you let the pro intimidate you?? I actually managed to take Scott Simpson down the last where 1 stray shot caused a double and preserved the 1987 U.S.Open champions pride ;-p

Jas

I don't recall you saying they had won a US open. Was it Gmac or Rmac that you played with?

super_realist wrote:

raycastleunited wrote:

pedro wrote:Footballer has-beens and golf seem to go hand in hand...

http://app.europeantour.com/webapp/news/newsid=256554.html

A lot of them are pretty good. I think Dalgleish's house overlooks Birkdale, Hansen is low single figures, Shevchenko is lower than scratch, Julian Dicks and Roy Wegerle both had + handicaps as well.

I'm very skeptical of their actual handicaps. Shevchenko and Kafelnikov have proven to be absolutely horrendous in tour events, shooting in the high 80's and  90's more often than not.

Don't know about Kaleshnikov, but just watched the PGA preview show and Shevchenko had a very tidy swing. Pietersen looked a right bandit off 16! A bit vomit inducing listening to Roe et al fawning over the occasion.

McLaren wrote:
Ray

Wow, you must be good.  I was totally outgunned by the pro's I  have played with.  Every aspect of their game was just so superior to mine that it was actually a little disheartening.

I guess I must be, compared to you. What I love about golf is that from time to time I can play a shot that even a tour pro would be proud of, whether it's holing a chip or sticking an approach to a couple of feet.

Keep on practising mac. When you get to the stage that you're able to break 100 you will find you make pars from time to time and maybe even a birdie.

Beware of the injured golfer....Go Paddy!

Played with a lot of local pros, and the difference between the best and the others is marked. Guy who has won local OM 7 or so times in last 10 years, not long but just so accurate! Richard Bland played a local pro event last year, and won it by 10 shots. I've also been at a charity event where he comfortably went round Remedy Oak (not from the tips) in 5 under, which doesn't happen normally.
Like all sports, standards are difficult to understand until you see real quality practitioners.
Can't even begin to imagine just how good the likes of Rory are, but one of our chaps won a place in pro am at Wentworth with him a few years ago, and proceeded to knock in 4 birdies, as many as he has ever made in a round. Rory out birdied him!

I followed Rory around yesterday morning in his pro-am. Quite a lot of exciteable girls running around following Niall Horan, but they weren't too screechy.
Rory was impressive on the front nine, but quite poor on the back nine - probably trying shots he wouldn't in competition, or maybe tiredness catching up. Carved his second into bushes at 17, and found the water at 18. A few poor iron shots too, but the wind was as ever swirling around.
Crazy golf at 14, where they'd put the pin on the extreme front edge, on top of the precipice, which caused havoc with players putting off the green & fifty yards down the slope. Rory found the back bunker and had no chance. The 14th, if you've not been to Wentworth, is much steeper than it appears on TV. Wonder if they'll use that pin position on Sunday....

Dry and bright this morning and lower winds so I'd expect a few good scores. That 14th is a beast of a hole

Two non-starters: Gallacher & Wall. Nothing about Harrington yet.

So much for my prediction of low scores! Only Chris Wood really making a move at the moment (-4) - early starters approaching the end of the round and next best is -2

Daft not to choose Jin Jeong for Grumpy's game: tailed off last already. Gawd knows how he ever won anything.

That was an incredible recovery shot on 13 from Kaymer

European Tour web-site reporting Harrington called it a day after three holes. Retired hurt. Why ever did he start?

Shame for Paddy, hopefully he is ok for next week!

kwinigolfer wrote:European Tour web-site reporting Harrington called it a day after three holes. Retired hurt. Why ever did he start?

My thoughts exactly. Not very fair on the next chap on the reserve list (or alternate as you might say!) who might need the chance to earn some money.

kwinigolfer wrote:Daft not to choose Jin Jeong for Grumpy's game: tailed off last already. Gawd knows how he ever won anything.

One of my choices is pushing him hard Kwini....

Scott Jamieson in with a good early round. Must be the most inconsistent golfer on the planet.

super_ will be thrilled to see "Fat Shane" off elbowing his way towards the top table.

Wonder who Paul Lawrie was referring to out of JM Singh or Bobby Karlsson............

"Shot 79+7 drove it lovely 11/14 fairways but only 11 greens and 1/7 up-and-downs tells the story. Not sure why but short game was awful today which is odd as not something I struggle with. Our group put on the clock on 13th hole as one of my playing partners taking forever on every shot then ref arrives and he starts to hit it on the run as so many slow players do , so so frustrating and selfish but no surprise"

http://www.paullawriegolf.com/blog-archive/may-2015

EmmDee,
Lawrie withdrew today, not clear whether his problem was physical or emotional!

Having said which, the Swedish golfers do sometimes play at a pace which suggests they've been watching too much of guys like Ben Crane.

Sounds more like a Singh Ting to me

The Swedes are usually pretty slow. Henrick one of the worst slow play offenders out there.

I think that most of them like to take their time and who can blame them when there is so much money and other benefits at stake. We watched Justin Rose, Graeme McDowell and Danny Willett tee off on the first yesterday at 1.00pm and were sitting in the stand by the 18th green when they were putting out at 6.15pm...

kwinigolfer wrote:Lawrie withdrew today, not clear whether his problem was physical or emotional!

Edoardo Molinari retired after 8 holes yesterday (was +8 at the time) and David Drysdale was DQd - no idea why. Some good scoring today - it must be pretty easy. Rory is going to have to go some to catch Franny who is currently -10!

Blue.
I followed McDowell for 18 holes a few months back and it was no fun at all - very plodding, a bit like following Zach Johnson, if you've ever had the misfortune . . . . . .

Edoardo Molinari duffed his tee shot on 14 yesterday. Went about 80 yards right into the heather in front of the tee.
No seen a pro do that before!!

woods did it on the 13th at augusta this year. looked like he chunked it a mile behind the ball, got a friendly bounce off a tree, and ended up making birdie.

Tasty finish from Brooks Koepka: -6 over his final seven holes. There's one pro who has "another gear", or in his case two or three.

2 contenders for worst words heard in Sky commentary;
"And now welcome back to the commentary, Mark Roe"
"I'm now joined by Bruce Critchley"

My heart sinks - but I'm sure they are really nice, and kind to children and animals.

puligny wrote:2 contenders for worst words heard in Sky commentary;
"And now welcome back to the commentary, Mark Roe"
"I'm now joined by Bruce Critchley"

My heart sinks - but I'm sure they are really nice, and kind to children and animals.

I bet they don't let children smoke cigarettes either, unlike a certain past champion who was filmed with a child who smoking. Or something like that.

Can anyone stop Rory at Wentworth?

The cut if he continues like this.

Might just be because I don't play anymore, but this year's BMW has been a complete snooze fest so far.

McIlroy heading home isn't going to help your viewing pleasure GW.

Is viewing pleasure automatically linked to a bad tempered wee Irishman then?

If I am youporn it certainly is.

pedro wrote:Can anyone stop rory at wentworth?

Rory can!

!