A CHANGE OF SPORT FOR PHELPS!

 

Today Ping have announced an agreement with Phelps to play a full set of the company's custom-fit clubs, which he'll debut in the pro-am of the Waste Management Phoenix Open when he plays with reigning Masters champion Bubba Watson. Phelps was fitted Tuesday at Ping for his new G25 driver, fairway woods, hybrids and irons. He'll also play the Tour Gorge Groove wedges and Scottsdale TR (True Roll) putter.
"I have a goal in everything I do," Phelps told USA TODAY Sports. "I have friends who are single handicaps and scratch golfers, and I would love to be able to go out there and to challenge them and to be able to compete with them without them giving me 15 strokes.
"I think there are days where I put together a couple holes, but I still have horrible holes, so hopefully I can eliminate those holes and be more consistent, and that's something that I really would love to do."
Today, playing with Watson, his goal is simple — to have fun, even though he said his heart rate is climbing thinking about playing in front of so many people, especially at the stadium-enclosed par-3 16th. He said he gathered valuable reconnaissance for his outing in the Loudest Show on Turf when he played in the pro-am before this year's Ryder Cup.
"A lot of the guys gave me a lot of good tips. I'm a lot more confident now with my game than what I was then," said Phelps, who counts 18 Olympic gold medals and 22 in all among his 70 international swimming titles. "It is going to be cool to be able to go play with Bubba. I don't know if I can compare it to anything, but walking up to the 16th is going to be a little crazy. I'm going to go out there and have fun and enjoy myself, and as long as I do that, I think that's really all that matters."

UAE Golf: Spaniards Garcia and Cabrera-Bello on form in Omega Dubai Desert Classic press conferences | Omega Dubai Desert Classic News

With a broad smile lighting up his face, Rafael Cabrera-Bello walked off the Majlis course to see his name on top of the leaderboard in the Omega Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club on February 12, 2012. That was more pleasing to him was the way he got there.
The Spaniard had just upstaged three of the world's top four at the time -- Lee Westwood, Rory McIlroy and Martin Kaymer -- to register the biggest win of his career since turning pro in 2005.
With his confidence on a high, he will be hoping to revive that memory and become the first back-to-back winner of the longest-running European Tour event in the region since its inception in 1989.
 "Coming back 12 months later I knew I was going to like the feeling, but I didn't know it was going to be so good here, seeing my face all over the place and everything, it's very fun," said Cabrera-Bello, who is yet to finish outside the top 25 this season.

"Winning here gave me a quality jump in my game, in my World Ranking. It opened the door to play some of the biggest events in golf such as the World Golf Championships and the Major Championships," said Cabrera-Bello -- the fifth Spanish player to win Omega Dubai Desert Classic following Seve Ballesteros in 1992, José María Olazábal in 1998, Miguel Angel Jiménez in 2010 and Alvaro Quiros in 2011.
"The Spanish domination in this event is a pretty much a coincidence. It's very, very hard to win any where, and it's rare for three guys from one country to win in a row.
"The reason I play golf is thanks to [José María] Olazábal, who I saw win The Masters in '94 and '99. That's definitely what made me dream about being a pro.
"I also remember growing up watching videos of Seve [Ballesteros]. I didn't get to see him play live in his prime, but I did watch plenty of videos. The way he re-invented golf was obviously something that no Spaniard and no European, or no one in the world will forget."
His fellow countryman Sergio Garcia, who has returned to Emirates Golf Club for a sixth time, sounded confident of maintaining the form he showed in finishing tied second at last week's Commercial Bank Qatar Masters, just one shot behind England's Chris Wood.
"I like the course. I've played okay for the most part here so I'm looking forward to it. Obviously coming off a good week last week I'm hoping to keep those good feelings going and give myself a chance on the weekend like I did last week."
Meanwhile, Chris Wood feels a good showing in Dubai will help him move up another 10 places on the world rankings to earn a ticket to the Masters, the season's first Major Championship.
"I've watched the Masters since I was about five years old," said Wood, who played at Augusta National in 2010 courtesy of his tied third place finish in The Open Championship the year before.
"It's the first Major of the season and it's the one that everyone wants to play in. So the Masters is the one on the horizon at the moment. That will be the first thing, to try to get into that.
"We have a good field this week so there's more World Ranking points available," said Wood, who eagled the closing hole to beat Garcia in the Qatar Masters.
His victory drew praise from far and wide, and he added: "Gary Player sent me a Tweet. I didn't see it at first but then my mate texted me to tell me so I got online and saw it. It just said congratulations on your first win, there should be many more to come. And he is now following me on Twitter which is pretty surreal really."
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 UAE Golf: Spaniards Garcia and Cabrera-Bello on form in Omega Dubai Desert Classic press conferences | Omega Dubai Desert Classic News

MELIA SANCTI PETRI - CADIZ SPAIN - WINTER OFFER

MELIA SANCTI PETRI – CADIZ

***** GRAN LUJO

November 2012 – April 2013

3 nights B&B + 2 Green Fees                            FEB               MAR          APR

3 nights in a premium double room

Breakfast included

1 green fee at La Estancia Golf or Lomas de Sancti Petri               310€            437€         329€

1 green fee at Novo Sancti Petri

Welcome drink in the hotel

Use of the Spa and Fitness

Free entrance to Casino Bahia Cadiz

Free transfer to golf courses

Wi Fi

Garage

7 nights B&B + 5 Green Fees

7 nights in a Premium double room

Breakfast included

2 green fees at La Estancia Golf

2 green fees at Novo Sancti Petri                                                      770€                         -       839€

Fresh fruit at arrival

3 golf balls packs

Welcome drink in the hotel

Use of Spa and Fitness

Free entrance to Casino Bahia de Cadiz

Transfer to 3 golf courses

Wi Fi

Garage

LEE WESTWOOD - MISSING HOME?

 What does Lee Westwood miss about Worksop which was home before making the big decision to make a new life for him and his family in sunny West Palm Beach Florida, well he has few regrets! But as a fellow ex pat I know there are always things that to miss from home
When asked what he missed about England, Westwood said: ‘Obviously my mum and dad, but also the Daily Mail crossword and watching the cricket.’

 

Over the past two years  Westwood has slipped from No 1 in the world to eighth and, at this stage in his career, he could see the writing on the wall.
His manager, Chubby Chandler, said: ‘This change is all about giving him a few more years at the very highest level while enjoying a wonderful lifestyle.’
It has also brought a change of schedule and, while Westwood is not turning his back on the  European Tour, there have been some adjustments. After this trip the next time he leaves America, for example, will be Wentworth in May.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/golf/article-2270406/Lee-Westwood-settling-new-life-Florida.html#ixzz2JTJfyDnp

 

Vijay Singh admits to using banned substance in Sports Illustrated article

According to an article in this weeks Sports Illustrated Vijay Singh has been named as one of several athletes to use a banned substance from a two-man company called S.W.A.T.S. -- Sports with Alternatives to Steroids!

 

Christopher Key and Mitch Ross, run their company from a gym in Alabama. They sell products such as deer antler spray and hologram chips that they claim will help athletes perform better on the field.

The deer antler spray contains IGF-1, which SI describes as a "natural, anabolic hormone that stimulates muscle growth."

It is also a banned substance by all major pro sports leagues.

Despite warnings from the PGA Tour that the deer antler spray was a banned substance, SI reports that Singh ordered several products from S.W.A.T.S. last November.

(Vijay Singh, however, remains a vocal supporter. In November, Singh paid Ross $9,000 for the spray, chips, beam ray and powder additive -- making him one of the few athletes who is compensating S.W.A.T.S. He says he uses the spray banned by the PGA "every couple of hours . . . every day," sleeps with the beam ray on and has put chips on his ankles, waist and shoulders. "I'm looking forward to some change in my body," Singh says. "It's really hard to feel the difference if you're only doing it for a couple of months.")

Players were warned about the deer antler spray back in 2011 after Mark Calcavecchia was told by the PGA Tour to stop endorsing to stop  S.W.A.T.S.'s "Ultimate Spray."

Read more: http://blogs.golf.com/presstent/2013/01/vijay-singh-admits-to-using-banned-substance-in-sports-illustrated-article.html?sct=hp2#ixzz2JT94YXi2

Ladies European Tour (LET) - ISPS Handa NZ Women´s Open – Nordqvist ticks off bucket list

   

Swedish major champion Anna Nordqvist said that coming to New Zealand has always been on her bucket list.
Coming new places always excites the Swede and she can’t wait to tee it up in the world-class field at the Clearwater Golf Club in the ISPS Handa NZ Women’s Open hosted by Christchurch from February 8 – 10.
“I have never been to New Zealand before but it is one of those places that I always wanted to go to,” said the down-to-earth 25-year-old.
“I have heard the nature is quite spectacular and I am hoping to have time to explore some of the country while I’m there. I have a good friend that is from Christchurch so I have heard so much good about the area and looking at pictures online.  I can’t wait to get there.”
Nordqvist is one of two major champions in the field – alongside fellow Swede Sophie Gustafson.
The championship has attracted an all-star cast including the previous four champions of the event and World No.1 amateur Lydia Ko.
World No.16 Angela Stanford and Cheyenne Woods, the niece of Tiger Woods, are other notable players in a field that will include 32 LPGA Tour Players. Also teeing it up is European No. 1 Carlota Ciganda. It is the strongest field ever assembled for the NZ Women’s Open.
Nordqvist, who lives in Orlando Florida, will begin among the favourites after enjoying a phenomenal start to her professional career.
She claimed her first professional win when she won the LPGA Championship in 2009 in Maryland only a year after she turned pro at the age of 22.
Her victory led to her selection as a captain's pick for the 2009 Solheim Cup and later that year she capped off her dream debut season on the LPGA Tour by winning the Tour Championship.
She was named Rookie of the Year on the LET and finished runner-up to Jiyai Shin for LPGA Rolex Rookie of the Year honors. Nordqvist has gone onto win five times around the world and has already achieved more that most players do in their entire career.
Her dream year in 2009 could easily not have happened. Nordqvist remembers her auspicious start well.
“I didn’t know what to expect going into 2009,” she said.
“I missed my full LPGA card by one shot and didn’t even know what I was going to get to play or not. My dream was always to play with the best players in the world on the LPGA Tour so I never gave up that dream going into 2009.
“Then I won European Qualifying School in the beginning of January 2009 and it felt great to know I had a place to play.
“Then winning on LPGA in my fifth LPGA Tour start pretty much changed everything and I secured my card on the LPGA for the rest of the year. I was close to winning LPGA rookie of the year with two LPGA wins that year but I felt really fortunate to win the LET rookie of the year and have such a great start to my career.”
The two-time Solheim Cup rep, who finished 19^th on the LPGA money list in 2012, is looking for a fast start to the season to secure her place in the 2013 team.
“I played really solid and consistent last year with many top-10 finishes. My putting was disappointing for the most part last year so I never felt like I got anything back.
“It is a Solheim Cup year so obviously that is on my mind. I am happy I get the opportunity to play my first professional tournament in Sweden now that we finally have a Ladies European Tournament in Sweden again. My main focus is on the LPGA Tour where my goal is to get my 3rd win out there.”
Nordqvist has special memories of the Solheim Cup – the women’s equivalent to the Ryder Cup.
“The Solheim Cup is like the experience of your life! There is nothing like it and the atmosphere gives me goose bumps every time I think about it. There are a lot of Europeans that are playing good at the moment and I look forward to having a chance of making the team and defending the cup on US soil this year.”
The Swede has taken her rise in stride and managed to stay grounded through all of her success.
“As far as me as a person, nothing has changed. I am still the same Anna even though I feel like I have matured a lot these last couple of years and obviously the major win changed my life in the way that I got my full LPGA card and didn’t have to worry about where to play for the next couple of years.”

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Ladies European Tour (LET) - ISPS Handa NZ Women´s Open – Nordqvist ticks off bucket list

Ladies European Tour (LET) - LET season starts Friday in Queensland, Australia!

 

A field of 138 competitors from 21 different countries will launch their 2013 season at the Volvik RACV Ladies Masters in Australia this weekend.
The 54-hole strokeplay tournament gets under way at RACV Royal Pines Resort on the Gold Coast in Queensland from Friday 1^st to Sunday 3^rd February.
The players – including 13 of last year’s LET tournament champions and 12 rookies making their tour debuts – are relishing the start of the new season.
Despite heavy rain over the weekend, which led to a course closure on Tuesday, organisers are confident of getting the tournament under way on schedule. The course has a history of recovering from storms in time to be ready to play.
The top players in the field include last year’s LET tournament winners Carlota Ciganda (Deloitte Ladies Open and Suzhou Taihu China Open), Caroline Masson (South African Women’s Open), Carly Booth (Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open and Deutsche Bank Ladies Swiss Open), Stacey Keating (Tenerife Open de Espana and Lacoste Ladies Open de France), Anne-Lise Caudal (UniCredit Ladies German Open presented by Audi), Christel Boeljon (Gold Coast RACV Ladies Masters and Turkish Airlines Ladies Open), Lydia Hall (ISPS Handa Ladies British Masters), Caroline Hedwall (Uniqa Ladies Golf Open), Karen Lunn (Lalla Meryem Cup), Cassandra Kirkland (Sanya Ladies Open), Jessica Korda (ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open), Pornanong Phatlum (Hero Women’s Indian Open) and Jiyai Shin (Ricoh Women’s British Open).
The 12 rookie members of the Ladies European Tour in the field, excited to make a fresh start, are Ariya Jutanugarn of Thailand, who won Lalla Aicha Tour School in December, China’s Xiyu Lin, England’s Emily Taylor, Scotland’s Pamela Pretswell, Camilla Lennarth, Daniela Holmqvist and Jacqueline Hedwall of Sweden, Cheyenne Woods and Mallory Fraiche of the United States, Australians Nikki Campbell, Whitney Hillier and Sarah King.
European Solheim Cup team hopefuls gearing up for the season include Sweden’s Pernilla Lindberg and Italians Diana Luna and Giulia Sergas, who are joined by fellow hopefuls Becky Brewerton and Gwladys Nocera, among others in the field.
Former champions Katherine Hull and seven-time winner Karrie Webb will attract strong support from their home galleries in Queensland.
Meanwhile South Koreans So Yeon Ryu and Jiyai Shin, at No.7 and No.8 in the world respectively, are the highest ranked players in the field.
READ MORE AND KEEP TRACK BELOW
Ladies European Tour (LET) - LET season starts Friday in Queensland, Australia!