Girlie Moment

Not on my part (the 'moment' that is) but the Daily Telegraph stands accused. Launching a new golf page in the Sport section today (sorry, no sign in the online edition) they just happen to give the most space to a photo of Jodie Kidd. Not that I have any problem with Jodie who plays a good game , comes acrosss well in Pro-Am tournaments and takes a lovely photo (well, she is a model I suppose!) I just hope the Telegraph is going to take heed of the equality lobby and give us girls a picture of some gorgeous hunk in a future issue, though since the tour is lamentably short IMO of truly delectable men-folk, perhaps we'll be treated to some of those eager celebrity golfers (Ronan Keating? Hugh Grant? Meat Loaf???)

Talking of the male physique, I did get a bit of a shock seeing Monty step out in the Spanish Open today. Five weeks off golf and it looks like he's gained a pound for every day. If I were his wife I might be worried. On the other hand, he was playing some fine golf and turned in a more than respectable 2 under for the day.
Will try to remember this next time I'm offered a Danish pastry.
You can see Monty (in slimmer mode) and Jodie Kidd on an outing together here.

Monty gets hitched

Hardly a surprise that Monty took his wedding guests for a celebratory round of golf at Loch Lomond. I mean, why else get married next to a golf course? And at least he got the golf out of the way first, and has apparently promised to stay off the course for the duration of the honeymoon. (Hmm, is Gaynor wise? Dare she come between a man and his golf for that long?) Anyway, his pre-wedding golf is in contrast to a friend of mine who was woken at 5am on the day after the nuptials so that a certan game of golf could go ahead.
Yes, they are still married, honest!

BTW the above link is not to the club's own website which to my mind is an irritatingly Flashy piece of work, but it has at least reminded me of my ambition to visit the Barclay's Scottish Open coming up in July. Can't think of a better place to watch golf or a better time to try out my new swing north of the border (though possibly not on that partcular course!)

Monty goes West

Monty's exploits never fail to stir up comment, but where's the Principal's Nose these day? On holiday somewhere hot and sticky, I suspect, but Lewine Mair had a nice piece in theTelegraph about his desertion of Far East in favour of Florida and more points towards a Masters appearance. Ironically very few people think he's likely to do well at Augusta even if he gets there in the first place, although after his opening round at Bayhill even that's looking unlikely. More money might go on a surprise win on his home soil rather than in any U.S. major, though it's sad that any win is now seen as a surprise (to us if not to him!) A Golf Monthly Forum member recently asked if he or Sandy Lyle would be judged 'top Scottish golfer' of their generation, and although Monty in many people's eyes has done better over longer, I think in any popular vote, Lyle would win for his record in majors.
Interesting that the problem for most sportsmen of when to when to hang up the kit can be postponed almost indefinitely in golf, and for Monty the seniors tour will soon be beckoning.

Scotland win the World Cup of Golf

Had to find a really big Scottish flag to make up for the fact that Scotland's win at Mission Hills in China almost passsed me by. I saw none of the live action and had to rely on Lewin Mair's report in Monday's Telegraph.
Huge congrats to Monty and Marc Waren for a great performance and a three-hole play off in which both of them played some fantastic shots.
Thanks too to the provider of this photo taken at a Scottish festival in the U.S. and posted on Fickr. (And to Blogger for sorting out the photo upload probem - at last!)

Rose saves best for last

Without Sky it's hard keeping track, but it looks like Justin Rose has just won the Volvo Masters after a really exciting last day finishing with a three-way play-off. I'm pleased for Rose who has advanced by leaps and bounds this year without taking a big title, so this should make up for all the near misses. He also tops the European tour Order of Merit, not the biggest prize in golf, but better than a kick in the pants. Harrington was pipped at the post, having dropped to third place behind Rose and Els. It's a pity that the first few days at Valderrama were overshadowed by Monty's criticism of Els and others for staying away, but I doubt that Justin Rose will be worrying about them tonight. A good end to the European season, and Harrington can console himself with the biggest prize of the year.

Love is in the air

Next week Ian Poulter takes time off for a wedding, and next spring Colin Montgomerie is also tying the knot. I remember when Monty split with his first wife (which came surprisingly not long after a TV documentary their life together) and since then Monty has had a run of girl-friends. Seems he’s a guy who needs a woman in tow, so hope this one works out for him, and if his website's anything to go by, he's convinced Gaynor is going to get his game back in shape. Colin came to professional golf comparatively late, and it seems like he’s been around for a while, so I was surprised to read he’s only 42. Let’s hope his new partner will bring back the bloom of youth! By contrast Ian Poulter certainly looks no more than his 31 years. Despite his glamorous image it seems he’s no play-boy. He’s been with his girl-friend for 10 years and they already have two kids. He’s also having a pretty good season, so it looks like a stable home background can only be good for golf.

Yikes, is it the yips?

Yesterday’s disaster was compounded by an attack of putting nerves. I’m not sure if this is true ‘yips’ but it’s bad enough. I can do long putts, but if there’s anything at all at stake, short putts defeat me. I don’t think I’ll abandon my White Hot Odyssey putter, but replies on the Golf Monthly Forum have reminded me of a number of things to try, including changing my grip. A lot of people find that putting with the left hand lower lessens interference from the wrists, though in my case I think the interference may be from the brain! Still, the effort of concentrating on a new stroke might be enough to drive out the demons.
Whatever I decide, the main thing is to practise more, especially before a round. Of course I’m not alone with putting problems. Monty is notorious for losing things on the green. I know how he feels, but can’t help feeling he has less excuse than me for not practising!
Picture credits here

Montgomerie Wins (and size matters)

The Principal’s Nose is highly disparaging this week not just about the European Open in general but the K club in particular, but someone who’s probably impervious to any of it is Monty, who (despite my previous pessimism) chalked up a win there last week after a long drought. Good on him, I say. Naturally this will put him back in the spotlight for the big one at Carnoustie. Will he live up to it? Maybe I should say 'no', just to bring him luck. But the main thing is, he’s got that win under his belt. It may be the first of a second coming, it may be the last. Either way, it’s a win and no one can take it away from him.

As to size, well, it’s nothing to do with Monty's girth (or anything more personal). I refer, of course, to his putter, which he has now replaced with a belly putter, possibly the most ungainly item in any golf bag. I must say I have never seen a regular club golfer with one of those contraptions, but the new blog at Golf for Women is right in pointing out that the putter is the club most readily thrown out by pros under pressure, and also the club most invested with superstition/reverence/disdain, depending on the last round. You’ve seen it yourself, the guy with a set of shiny new Callaways or Pings who swears by the ancient blade bequeathed by his granddad because of a good round two years ago. Like the lady says, (check out Putter Voodoo) putting is as much a matter of belief as technology.
BTW my own putter is an Odyssey White Hot, about two years old now. I think it’s a nice compromise between a traditional and a modern look and I can’t imagine giving it up for any of those frying pan models. If you want to know about the technology of all the new putters, check the putter guide on Great Value Golf.

French Open, Scottish Open

Tournament season in sunny Europe and the Brits are off to a great start with Graeme Storm’s win in Paris. Great performances too from Monty, Ian Poulter and Simon Khan, all in the top ten. Golf Girl was there and experienced the full force of Monty’s ill-temper, although according to the Daily Telegraph Colin had calmed down by the last day and is in confident mood for the weeks ahead. ‘I can win’ he is telling us.
Colin, we know that, and no one would like you to do so more than me, but why does this ebullience worry me? I think I’d be more comfortable if he were saying ‘Let’s face it, I haven’t a cat’s chance in hell.’ Then he could give us – and himself – the kind of surprise we’re waiting for.
Meanwhile I’ve just remembered that any day now we’ll have the Scottish Open on one of the most spectacularly beautiful golf courses in the country and possibly the world. Ticket prices are a snip at £25 and I’ve have been diverted from the task in hand into investigating hotels around Loch Lomond. Fat chance, I fear. If only I’d thought of it earlier. For photos of the location I can do no better than show you those taken last year and moon about saying ‘my heart’s in the highlands.’ Golf Girl should pack her bag again and try this side of the channel. It doesn’t always rain (honest).

More photos by John1710 on Flikr or or see Monty last year on a previous post.

Venus and Mars

Lady Golfer magazine is not something I especially rate for a good read, but this issue provided unusual (though somewhat indigestible) food for thought. Their columnist Madeleine Winnett reveals she has a problem with sex (?) What this boils down to is that she objects to men regarding women golfers as sex objects when the opposite doesn’t really apply, i.e. women don’t watch golf for the inherent physical attraction of the blokes playing it. I’m afraid my first reaction is to think that maybe it’s to do with the attributes (sorry chaps) of current tour players. I’d be hard pushed to think of one that does it for me. However, next day I spotted something in the Daily Telegraph that offers a scientific explanation for this state of affairs. Research has apparently proved that men in general get more pleasure from ‘studying the female form’ than women get from eying up men, though I’m still not sure this lets them off the hook.
If you’re wondering where the ‘indigestible’ comes in, that’s when M.W. proves her point by suggesting we ladies might admire Colin Montgomerie’s swing without ever wishing to ‘see him in a thong.’ Oh Madeleine, you are so right, but did you really have to pick that particular example?

Just to reassure us all I've found this photo of Monty fully clothed, (It's from Flickr and provided under a Creative Commons License. Thanks john1710!)