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The Vousden Column
May 07 2010 Posted in Golf News, Martin Vousden by GoKartThought for the Day
Is it possible to be totally partial?
Rory McIlroy
For a pro golfer to shoot 62 over one of the toughest courses on the US Tour would always be worthy of celebration. But to do it in the final round, for a most improbable victory – in fact your debut win in America, at the age of 20 – is almost too much to take in. So it is right and fitting that Rory McIlroy should probably wake up tomorrow morning with an almighty hangover because today (May 4th) is his 21st birthday, so he can now legally drink in the USA. (more…)
A new way to vote
May 05 2010 Posted in Golf News, Martin Vousden by GoKartGolfers at Hoebridge Golf Centre in Woking have been having fun during the general election by firing their golf balls at caricatures of the three main party leaders – Nick Clegg, Gordon Brown and David Cameron. If only they could persuade the three men themselves to stand there.
(With thanks to Martin Vousden)
Absurd.
Apr 30 2010 Posted in Golf News, Martin Vousden by GoKartThought for the Day
Keep skunks, bankers and lawyers at a distance
A week or so ago Brian Davis, the Londoner who has played on the US Tour for several years, lost out on his chance of a maiden PGA victory because of a nonsensical rule that he inadvertently breached while playing from a beach which was deemed a water hazard. On the first hole of a sudden-death playoff against Jim Furyk in the Verizon Heritage he fell foul of rule 13.4 (Ball in hazard: Prohibited Actions) because in the course of his backswing his club lightly touched a piece of reed grass. It was not fixed or growing so was considered a loose impediment and the player was penalised two strokes, effectively ending his challenge for the title. (more…)
Add a comment 2 Comments TweetVousden on the Masters
Apr 12 2010 Posted in Golf News, Martin Vousden by GoKartThought for the Day
What if there were no hypothetical questions?
Roll on Pebble Beach
It is impossible not to feel a warm glow on behalf of Phil Mickelson after landing his third green jacket, even for those of us who were rooting for Lee Westwood to make the breakthrough with his first Major win. Mickelson’s off-course anguish, having had his wife and mother diagnosed with cancer within a few days of each other last year, is well-known, and has been reflected on the golf course this season, with a series of uncharacteristically ragged performances.
And yet at Augusta National he was back to his smiling, adventurous, go-for-broke best, exemplified by the stonking shot he hit on the 13th. Having pushed his drive into the pine trees up the right, he nevertheless took on the challenge of firing his second, from a bed of pine needles, through the narrowest of gaps between a pair of tree trunks, to within five feet to set up an eagle chance. The fact that he only made birdie does not diminish the skill, confidence and courage he showed in both contemplating and then executing such a stroke of magisterial brilliance. (more…)
Add a comment 1 Comment TweetVousden’s on form, maybe not on the golf course though…
Apr 06 2010 Posted in Golf News, Martin Vousden by GoKartThought for the Day.
The sole purpose of a child’s middle name is so they can tell when they’re really in trouble.
Getting it right
On a recent long, lonely drive home after playing golf at the frighteningly abysmal standard to which I can sometimes sink, I started to think about all the things that can go wrong during our pathetic attempts to hit a golf ball. I mean, just consider the way we hold the club – our grip can be too strong or weak, too tight or light; or we can lose control at the top and have to re-grip during the swing. We then move on to considering stance, alignment, posture and weight distribution And all of this has to be perfected while we’re standing completely still. (more…)
C’mon Ernie! Make it a double (win, not bogey).
Mar 29 2010 Posted in Golf News, Martin Vousden by GoKartToday’s column from Martin. Now we’re not saying he’s cantankerous but…
Thought for the Day
Can someone who knows Morse code ever really enjoy a tap-dancing show?
Defining moments
Before starting I should, perhaps, declare an interest – Ernie Els is my favourite golfer in the world. Not just because of the apparently unconscious fluidity of his swing (which is an illusion, by the way, as he works just as hard on that beautiful rhythm as on any other part of his game) but also because he thinks that the way you live your life and treat other people is just as important as the trophies and honours you gather along the way. He remains as he always been; polite, considerate, amiable, relaxed and funny – in short, he’s not Vijay Singh. (more…)
