Gulbis birdied the first hole of a sudden death play-off to edge out South Korea's Jang Jeong after the pair had tied on four-under 284 in France.Lorena Ochoa and Juli Inkster tied for third while Laura Davies was the best of the Britons as she tied for 12th place.
Hawaiian teenager Michelle Wie finished with a share of 69th place on 16-over after a final round 76.
Gulbis put herself into contention for the title with a closing round of 70 while Jang shot a 72 to force the play-off.
When the players went back down to the par-five 18th, the American two-putted for birdie while Jang failed to up and down from the back of the green.
Jim Furyk finished a very close one shot over 2nd place Vigay Singh at the Canadian Open yesterday. Furyk who had a disapointing Open at Carnoustie fired 6 birdies, and an eagle in a round of 64 to seal victory over the big Fijian. Furyk even managed a hole in one to take his title in style. Good job Jim, well deserved!!
What are your thoughts on Jim winning in Canada?
26 year old Agentinian Andres Romero took victory in style yesterday as he finished a 2 under par 70 and -19 in Hamburg. Romero who finished a very unlucky 3rd place last week in Carnoustie was definitely on course and due for a win after his efforts. Despite an unfortunate double bogey on the 9th, the Argentinian then went on to birdie the 11th hole and take himself 4 shots clear on the leaderboard. Oliver Wilson (ENG) and Soren Hansen (DEN) could only manage to tie on 2nd place after Romero finally finished 3 shots clear. Englishman Zane Scotland started out the day in 2nd place just off Romero but sadly ended his campaign in 11th place. An excellent performance by the Argentinian who im sure we will see a lot more of especially now he has claimed a place at the WGC Bridgestone Invitational in Akron next week and a 5 year European Tour exemption. Tell us your thoughts on the Romero win.
Well it seems as if Darren Clarke and Paul Mginley will be re-united with all their Ryder Cup teams (Europe and America). The late call came as both players finish the Open Championship at Carnoustie. Clarke who missed the cut was obviously disappointed with not making the weekends play, but is delighted that he will be included in next months USPGA in Southern Hills (Oklahoma).
MCGinley on the other hand finished a very respectful 19th place and will relish the invitation. Both players have recently found some form and will almost certainly be on a high when making the journey across the atlantic. The Southern Hills USPGA will tee off on the 8th of August in Tulsa, and i for one will be watching the Irish partners hoping that they can turn on a decent show.
Wow!!! What an end to the open...Sergio Garcia must have been spitting chips when he fluffed his 5 footer game winning birdie on the 18th to bring Padraig back on to the course for the playoff. In my opinion, as soon as Garcia missed the putt, he lost the match. Padraig was just too good for him on the day. However before the playoff Harrington had his own demons to cope with when he hit the water twice and ending the 18th with a bogey, leaving the door wide open for Garcia.
Starting the playoff Padraig looked the more likely to clinch the title and this was confirmed when Garcia shot a bogey and Harrington shot a birdie on the first. Garcia's game went downhill from there and all Padraig had to do was keep a steady game. In the end, experience and cool nerves won the day for Padraig. A lovely moment at the end of the playoff when Padraig hugged his young son and he looked like the weight of the world was lifted off his shoulders. Padraig thoroughly deserved his win today and well done to him. Sergio however was very unlucky and for him another day will come. Well done to both of them and i would like to thank them both for a very entertaining Sunday afternoon.
What are your thoughts on Colin and Phil missing the cut at the Open?
After trawling through various online golf sites i managed to come across a golf site called direct golf uk.
Check out these Nike Ignite clubs and see if you think they are value for money...look for yourself.
http://www.direct-golf.co.uk/product/product.asp?product_ID=4638
Even par 71 after day 2 and sergio is looking very strong. I must admit that before the championship started Sergio Garcia didnt make my top 5. As always the Championship has thrown up many surprises this year yet again, Mickelson on his way out, Tiger getting easy free drops, KJ Choi storming like a trooper, and of course Sergio leading after the first and second day. Well done Sergio who is currently holding the European flag high. Do you have any thoughts on him holding his nerve throughout the weekend? Let us know...
Leading Players
Friday, 20 July 2007
COUNTRY First Round Second Round SCORE AFTER
1 Garcia Spa 65 71 -6 18
2 Choi Kor 69 69 -4 18
3 Jiménez Spa 69 70 -3 18
3 Weir Can 71 68 -3 18
5 Weekley US 68 72 -2 18
5 Furyk US 70 70 -2 18
7 Goosen SA 70 71 -1 18
7 Forsyth Sco 70 71 -1 18
7 Cabrera Arg 68 73 -1 18
7 Romero Arg 71 70 -1 18
7 Henry US 70 71 -1 18
7 Westwood Eng 71 70 -1 18
13 Els SA 72 70 level 18
13 Harrington Ire 69 73 level 18
13 Broadhurst Eng 71 71 level 18
13 Cink US 69 73 level 18
13 Bourdy Fra 70 72 level 18
13 Pampling Aus 70 72 level 18
13 McGinley Ire 67 75 level 18
13 Andersson Hed Swe 72 0 level 17
Well well well....Big Phil ends up in the projected cut. What a shocker. Watching the second round today i couldnt believe what i was seeing, my second favourite player and number 2 in the world was way out, sometimes even looking as if he didnt want to be there! A round of 77 and now the plane home is looking more and more realistic for the big man. If 5 bogeys werent bad enough...He even found the Barry Burn. I dont know what to say....Anyway, what are your thoughts on his play and possible exit from the Championship?
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Rory McIlroy could be forgiven for having a mediocre round today at Carnoustie. After yesterday's performance who can deny that the talented youngster has something special. A double bogey and five bogeys later, Rory was still battling away at the leaderboard but could only manage a second round of 76 as opposed to yesterdays bogey free 68. However im sure everyone in Northern Ireland and around the world will be over the moon with the news that he has made the cut, and will be shooting out into the weekend.
1 Garcia Spa 65 -6 18
2 McGinley Ire 67 -4 18
3 Cabrera Arg 68 -3 18
3 Weekley US 68 -3 18
3 Brier Aut 68 -3 18
3 McIlroy NI 68 -3 18
3 Campbell NZ 68 -3 18
8 Harrington Ire 69 -2 18
8 Cink US 69 -2 18
8 Choi Kor 69 -2 18
8 Woods US 69 -2 18
8 Jiménez Spa 69 -2 18
13 Goosen SA 70 -1 18
13 Forsyth Sco 70 -1 18
13 Bourdy Fra 70 -1 18
13 Hanson Swe 70 -1 18
13 Beem US 70 -1 18
13 Donald Eng 70 -1 18
13 Micheel US 70 -1 18
13 Henry US 70 -1 18
After watching some very interesting golf this afternoon, i was happy to see that not all is well in the American camp. A day dominated by the Europeans was very satisfying to watch. Apart from John Daly who briefly threatened Paul McGinley's lead at the top of the board, there was no other American really in sight...Not even a Tiger! Although the top rankers were there or there abouts, the european contingency shone throughout the first day. After a dazzling performance by Paul McGinley finishing up at 4 under, the field was then clear for the late tee-ers to take the hot spot on the leaderboard. However, the only person who could upset the apple cart was Spaniard Sergio Garcia who finished the day on 6 under.
Sweet maybe then that after his comments earlier in the week, Nick Faldo finished up with his worst ever championship opening score of 79. Hapy Birthday Nick!
Going into this afternoons session Paul McGinley has certainly shown that he is in form. The Irishman has stormed to the top of the leader board by 1 shot. McGinely had scored 6 birdies in 14 holes and was looking strong until bogeys on the 15th and 16th took him back to 4 under. Can Paul hold his nerve tomorrow and into the weekend?
After 4 holes at Carnoustie, suprise topper on the leaderboard is KJ Choi at 4 under!!...What do you think of KJ's chances at Carnoustie?
What on earth is Gary Player thinking making claims that some golfers are taking drugs??? Or do you think he has a point?
Personally, im not sure why the hell golfers would take a banned substance...It's not as if they are running marathons here!
Read the full article here
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/golf/6904576.stm
I know its over a year until the 2008 Ryder Cup, but does anyone have any thoughts on the victorious team? Europe once again, or will the Americans gel this time as a unit?
41 year old Spaniard Jose Maria Olazabal today was forced to quit the open at Carnoustie this coming Thursday. Do you think he had a realistic chance of making the cut? Comment and let us know...
Padraig Harrington has defended claims by Englands Nick Faldo that the Europeans are too nice to win golfs major tournaments. Suggestions by Faldo that the the lack of competitive edge is one of the reasons that there have been no British or European winners since Paul Lawrie in 1999 have been hushed down by Harrington claiming that all Europeans have different approaches to their respective games. Padraig believes that Europe will not have to wait long for another major winner. Whatever the outcome at the end of this major, the winner will have had to work really hard to claim the top prize...My personal view is that friendships on the golfing circuit have nothing to do with the end result.
French golfer Greg Havret showed yesterday that he is a serious contender for the open this week at Carnoustie holding off Phil Mickelson at Loch Lomond and winning his place in the major starting this coming Thursday.
Being placed 320th in the world rankings did not seem to bother the frenchman as he took world number 3 Mickelson into a sudden death playoff at the end of the 18 after both finished 14 under. Eventually, Havert finished on 68, Mickelson on 69 after an awful drive by the American found the rough stuff, taking him four shots to locate the green. Havret however was up and down for a par 4 taking the Scottish Open spoils of £500,000.
A relatively disappointing day for Ernie Els as he finished up just 1 shot behind the leaders of the day. Greg Havret who has never before competed in a major will surely have his guns out for the big hitters going into this weeks open championship. Look out Tiger Woods!
Tiger Woods will trio up with Paul Lawrie and Justin Rose for the first 2 rounds at Carnoustie this week. The defending champ will link up with the winner of the last Carnoustie major in 1999 (Lawrie) and fourth place (Rose) to try and claim a third consecutive open championship. Lawrie is the last european to win a major and even though he has slumped to 282 in the world there will still be expectations of a good tournament for him. Justin Rose is one of Britains leading hopes coming into the open this year and along with the UK number 1 Luke Donald, all eyes will be on the europeans this year especially the Welsh amateur Llewellyn Matthews who only qualified for the tournament last week.
Today, and at 50 years of age, Seve Ballesteros has decided to retire from major golf. The veteran decided to call it a day after recent long injury hauls with knees and back and a dismal masters this year finishing 22 over par. Ballesteros who captained the Ryder Cup team to victory in 1997, said “Golf has given me so much over the years that it's really hard to give back even 25% of how much I got “. Ballesteros will now relax in his leisure golf and spend more time with family and friends.
It comes as no surprise that number 4 in the world, Ernie Els is setting his sights on becoming the next winner at Carnoustie this year. The big South African will take his place on the first tee just before lunch time on Thursday along side Robert Karlsson of Sweden and Lucas Glover of the USA. Stepping from 3rd place in Loch Lomond, Els will surely be brimming full of confidence. At Carnoustie In 1999 and just after the birth of his daughter, Ernie was understandably nervous about playing the major and admitted himself that he had many sleepless nights in the run up to the tournament. Now however, Els is showing no signs of pre match nerves and looks relaxed and focused. In a report Els went on record saying "It all depends on the weather, but I'll be working on my short game when I get to The Open and try to get some putts going."
It is no secret that the South African will be Tiger’s biggest threat this year and im sure he will feel he has the form and the steel nerves to make the cut this year.
You would have thought that golfers attending the Open Championship at Carnoustie would have learned by now that July often means rain in this country. Granted, we get some nice weather, but it never seems to be when a major comes to town. In my personal opinion European golfers will certainly have the upper hand if we do have the swirling winds and downpours that look imminent for the tournament. The likes of Paul Lawrie, and Paul Mcginely are no strangers to the howling British weather and im sure they will do their very best to take advantage of the situation when they tee off on Thursday. When players arrived for practice at Canoustie yesteday, a taste of the bad weather was there to greet them. Lets hope we don’t get too many complaints from the usual suspects. As i always say...”A good golfer never blames the elements”.
Darren Clarke sure has had a year of it...After slipping understandably after the death of his wife Heather last year, Darren missed 3 cuts up until three weeks ago, but after an impressive performance at the Buick Open and finishing up 19th place in the Scottish open, the Ulsterman has regained some form and is looking forward to an interesting Carnoustie.
Darren has been paired with Chris Di Marco and Michael Campbell of America in the major and will surely relish his opportunity to finish high on the leader board. Clarke can never be written off on the big stage. He showed this during last years Ryder Cup and no one can deny that his work ethic is second to none...Darren, along with Paul McGinely are two of my favourite players and i for one wish them both well for Carnoustie.
The Championship - Carnoustie 19 - 22 July 2007
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