Martin Vousden warming up for the 2013 season

Thought for the Day:
Everyone has a photographic memory; some just don’t have film

Almost there
With the greatest respect to all those involved in the Africa and Northern Trust Opens, which have just concluded on the European and US Tours respectively, the phoney war has ended and the real business is about to start. This week sees the first significant event of the year, the WGC-Accenture Matchplay Championship in Arizona. Its importance can be easily determined by the quality of the field it attracts, and for the first time in several months we have the world numbers one and two, Rory and Tiger, teeing up at the same venue. They are, of course, at the start of the early-season schedule that they hope will get their games in tune for the Masters, which is only eight weeks away. It strikes me as odd, though, that they choose to come out of hibernation for a matchplay event. These are so unpredictable and, in many ways, more difficult to win. Play your best golf and shoot a scorching 64, but meet an opponent who is one stroke better and you’re on the plane to the next venue.
Oh well, ours not to reason why.

Oh Dear
A friend assures me this is absolutely true. A pal of his is a keen golfer but not, how shall I put this, the most literate man in the world. Nevertheless he was delighted when his wife gave birth to a baby boy and decided to name him after his favourite golfer, young Mr McIlroy. Sadly, he recorded the child’s name with the registrar as ‘Roary’.

Not enough superlatives
The teenage phenomenon in golf was a pretty rare sight – and by that I mean a player so gifted that not only did they show huge potential at a young age but went on to surpass our expectations. Many of them exhibit huge promise that does not convert to achievement – Michelle Wie, for example – and for others the jury is still out, and here I’m thinking in particular of Lexi Thompson. In recent times only Tiger and Rory have lived up to and then exceeded all the promise and hype shown in their formative years.
To that short list we can now add another name, the truly astonishing Lydia Ko. She is 15-years-old and of course an amateur (none of the world’s pro Tours allow people membership at such a young age) but has already won four professional events, including the Canadian and New Zealand Opens. She is the youngest ever winner of a Ladies European Tour event and this weekend she went into the final round of the Women’s Australian Open, the first tournament on this year’s LPGA Tour, tied for the lead. She finished third, and the only players ahead of her were world-ranked numbers six and one, Jiyai Shin and Yani Tseng respectively. Lydia announced her intentions early, shooting 63 in the first round (followed by 69, 70, 76).
This is not a demonstration of potential or promise but of achievement. If she stays clear of injury and boys there is no limit to the heights she might attain.

Shome Mistake Shurely
The Independent, 21-01-2013
‘Darren Clarke: “My good is still very good. But my average is not good enough, that’s what’s killing me. I’m working away like a trouper, in the gym and on the practice ground, so I’m putting the hours in. It’s really frustrating. I’m far from done yet.”’
BBC News, 04-01-2013
‘Former Open winner Darren Clarke is to play in a city-based golf league in India in a format modelled on the country’s Twenty20 cricket league. Teams of four players will compete in the inaugural league at a course near Mumbai on 8-10 February. There will be two day-night rounds of strokeplay, followed by the third and final round of best-ball format, with all rounds comprising 14 holes.’

Why are we Waiting?
Willie Park Jr (1864 – 1925) won the Open Championship in 1887 and 1889. He was also a noted clubmaker and celebrated golf course architect – among the layouts he designed were the Old Course, Sunningdale, Olympia Fields near Chicago and The Maidstone Club on Long Island. He has been dead for 87 years but in May this year he will be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.
Why the wait?
Incidentally, America has at least 274 Halls of Fame.

Meanwhile…
Justin Timberlake is a keen golfer and hosts his own event of the US PGA Tour. In addition, he has become the first non-professional golfer to be officially signed up as one of Callaway’s roster of contracted stars. He will, according to the company: ‘Engage in the development and execution of high-level concepts within Callaway’s marketing activities and offer wide-ranging consultation on the visual representation of the brand.’
Glad to be able to make that clear.

Quote of the Week
Golf is like love. One day you think you are too old and the next day you want to do it again
Roberto de Vicenzo