Oh. My. God.  At the quarterfinals of the Volvo World Match Play Championship, Nicolas Colsaerts found himself in some deep doo-doo on the par-4 10th hole. Literally.  (continue reading…)

Hey dude, you going to America? Yeah? Cool, me too, dude.

It seems like just a few years ago the European Tour was gaining momentum in its claim for star power that rivaled the U.S. PGA Tour. Wait, it was!

With the economic downturn in Europe and loss of sponsors, many of its finest players have decided to jump ship and base themselves in America (while still maintaining their European Tour membership but keeping the number of starts at the bare minimum). With the PGA Tour boasting 28 of the top 30 players in world rankings in the upcoming 2013 season, the U.S. defection movement is now complete, wouldn’t you say? (continue reading…)

I love you, man!

Change has been a major theme all year in one of golf’s most thrilling seasons. So it shouldn’t have been a surprise that the Americans dominated the afternoon four-ball matches on Friday at the Ryder Cup.

The U.S. and Europe split the morning foursomes, earning two points a piece. The Americans were led by the dynamic duo of Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley, who handed the previously indomitable Luke Donald and Sergio Garcia their first loss in the alternate shot format (going into Friday, Donald-Garcia were a combined 14-0-1 in that format and as partners they were 4-0). (continue reading…)

Now that's what I call a reaction

First of all, apologies for making anyone worry about my absence the last few days. I had to deal with some more health issues and I’m still not 100%, but it’s nothing too serious and I’ll be fine. Thanks for the emails and tweets and I’m sorry I wasn’t able to attend the final round of The Barclays at Bethpage Black (one of my favorite venues bar none).

Well, I heard the Tour watered the greens on Saturday, so the course was “playable,” yet the Black is still one hell of a test. Congrats to Nick Watney on his victory at The Barclays, the first leg of the FedExCup playoffs. Watney, who previously had somewhat of a forgettable season for a player of his caliber, shot a two-under 69 to overcome a two-stroke deficit going into the final round and win by a three-shot margin over Brandt Snedeker.

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Didn't think this guy would be making an appearance, did you?

The European Tour’s lucrative roll along the Gulf coast continues this week, and while the Commercialbank Qatar Masters presented by Dolphin Energy (henceforth, the Qatar Masters) can’t quite muster the glamour of its bigger, brasher sister, the Abu Dhabi Championship, its first round was far from lacking in both excitement and oddity. (continue reading…)

Picture perfect: Karlsson had seven birdies on Thurdsday.

Abu Dhabi Golf Club has evolved into a golfing test every bit as imposing as its monumental clubhouse (I hear it doubles as the lair of a supervillain hell-bent, naturally, on world domination). A par-72 that clocks in at a frankly ridiculous 7,600 yards, it’s a layout that places its emphasis firmly on powerful, straight hitting.

Unsurprising, then, that the upper echelons of the first round leaderboard should be dominated – and dominated thoroughly – by class ball-strikers.

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Branden Grace: Saturday wasn't plain sailing for the youngster.

Thanks to an oddly lopsided third round, during which overnight leader Branden Grace failed to preserve his equanimity and a host of high-profile challengers nudged their way into contention, the final round of the Volvo Golf Champions may well prove worthy of the tournament’s claim to “elite” status. (continue reading…)

Grace leads the current Race to Dubai rankings.

In-form home favourite Branden Grace has assumed control at the halfway stage of the Volvo Golf Champions at Fancourt Links in South Africa. Bidding for back-to-back victories after securing his maiden European Tour victory at last week’s Joburg Open, the 23-year-old will take a sizeable advantage into the weekend. (continue reading…)

WTF: Colsaerts made seven birdies on Fancourt's back nine.

Belgium’s Nicolas Colsaerts has established a commanding, four-shot lead after the first round of the Volvo Golf Champions at Fancourt in South Africa. (continue reading…)