The best major of them all, The Masters® is upon us, and the Atari 2600 guy explains how to properly play Amen Corner (#11 White Dogwood, #12 Golden Bell and #13 Azalea) at Augusta National.
Amen Corner
Amen corner explained by the Atari 2600 Guy
Author: Guest Author
Estoril Open: Round 1 and 2 Recap
Paul Broadhurst and Jose-Filipe Lima share the lead at the Estoril Open, while Simon Dyson, who set a course record with a second round 64, and Barry Lane trail by one shot.
At the half-way point of the Estoril Open, England’s Paul Broadhurst and Portugal’s own Jose-Filipe Lima share the lead. Both players are at -8 and one shot ahead of Barry Lane and Simon Dyson, both of England. Dyson set a new course record shooting a second round 64.
On Thursday, the players met heavy winds as Markus Brier of Austria shot 65 to take a two-shot lead over Titch Moor, Stephen Schahill and Mads Vibe-Hastrup. Brier executed some brilliant shots in his opening round, hitting his long and mid irons close. Brier hit a six iron to five feet on the sixth to begin a string of three consecutive birdies.
Be a PGA Tour Caddy for a Day!
PGA Tour professionals are helping charities by auctioning off practice rounds on their bags this season. You could tote the bag for World #1 Vijay Singh!
CEO and veteran PGA Tour caddy Russ Holden describes Caddy For A Cure as “a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for golf enthusiasts to be “inside the ropes” with their favorite Tour player, one-on-one.” What a great idea! You can spend an entire day with a famous Tour pro, help with their club and shot selections, and walk a famous course during an official event! Imagine assisting worthwhile causes while watching the best golfers on tour, up close… and everybody benefits!
Kyle Bugge, recently on the bag for Bernhard Langer (photo at right), had this opportunity. As he wrote recently after a day of caddying for Langer “thank you for giving me the chance to live my dreams.”
Estoril Open de Portugal Preview
Sam Torrance, Paul Lawrie, and a handful of first time winners head up a field for the Estoril Open de Portugal Caixa Geral de Depositos.
After recent trips to Asia, Africa, and Australia, the European Tour returns to its home turf for the Estoril Open de Portugal Caixa Geral de Depositos (aka “Estoril Open”). The Estoril Open is first event of the 2005 International schedule and is one of the Tour’s longest running National Opens, dating back to 1953.
This year’s event is being held at a new venue, the Oitavos Golfe in Quinta da Marinha, Portugal, which has hosted both the European Challenge Tour and the European Seniors Tour in the past two seasons.
Volume Two
Cell phone rings annoy everyone, Nike to run our government, Annika get’s a handful, Asian influx on the LPGA and I think I broke my TV after last week’s Big Break III.
A little birdie told me that the guys at The Players Championship (not to be confused with the Playa’s Championship) were hoping Monday’s play was cancelled, as they knew volume two of Hittin’ the Links would be arriving in their web browser or RSS aggregator of choice. They’re anxious to see what we’ve selected for this week’s edition. So, all you guys playing poker in the locker room, count your chips and take a break, cause here’s volume two.
Sorenstam Grabs First Major of 2005
Annika took the plunge into Champion’s Lake today after a triumphant final round at the Kraft Nabisco Championship.
Comfortable and smiling throughout her round, Annika masterfully closed the door on several of the top veterans of the LPGA, playing a 7-shot lead heading into the back nine! Sorenstam paced herself on the final nine, birdied the 11th and made par on the balance of the holes coming in at 15-under par for a final round of 68 .Taking dead aim and with a full release on every shot, the 34-year-old swede could not be stopped.
Even though most professionals play it safe when in the lead to ensure a win, Annika went for the par-5 18th in two with a 2-wood, flying the water and landing safely on the green. She three-putted for an easy par. Winning this tournament for the third time, Sorenstam also tied Nancy Lopez’s record of five victories in her last five events. In fact, in 217 LPGA events, Annika has missed only four cuts – surprisingly enough – all in majors. After celebrating her victory and climbing from the pond, Annika remarked, “I had good momentum, I’m very excited… there are so many prestigious names on this trophy… I couldn’t ask for a better start to the season.”
Wiratchant Wins Innaugural Indonesia Open
Colin Montgomerie fires a final-round 60, but it’s not enough to crack the top 50 in the world or to beat Thailand’s Thaworn Wiratchant.
Colin Montgomerie has failed to make this year’s Masters; however, he didn’t go down without a fight. Monty shot a final-round 60, including nine straight birdies to finish in a tie for fourth. Montgomerie could have shot a 59, but instead left a 10-foot birdie putt short on his final hole.
Thailand’s Thaworn Wiratchant joins Thongchai Jaidee as the second Thai to win on the European Tour. Wiratchant finished at 25-under to win the Indonesia Open, which was jointly sponsored by the the European and Asian Tours. Wiratchant shot a third round 66 and final round 63, his third round of -7 of the week.
Continue reading “Wiratchant Wins Innaugural Indonesia Open”
Sorenstam Dominates at Nabisco
With five strokes separating her from the competition, can anyone start the day tomorrow believing they can beat Annika?
Scoring early in the third round of the Kraft Nabisco Championship with birdies on 2,3,7 and 8, Annika Sorenstam never looked back. Two more birdies on 12 and 15 gave her a final score of 66. Poised for her 59th career win and averaging over 271 yards off the tee this week, the 34-year-old swede is on her way to winning her eighth major title. And, comparatively speaking, with over $16 million in earnings to date, Sorenstam would rank 16th on the PGA Tour Money List.
Playing with Annika today was 45-year-old veteran Rosie Jones who is contemplating retirement at the end of this season. Although a co-leader yesterday, Jones could not match Sorenstam. With a birdie putt at 11 to get her to 6-under-par, Jones gave back a stroke at 13, narrowly missed her birdie putt at 17 and finished with par to come in with a 6-under 66 for the tournament.
Indonesia Open Coverage: Rounds 1 and 2
Thunderstorms have put an early end to the second round at the Indonesia Open, but that’s not what put an end to Colin Montgomerie’s chances of making the field in his 14th straight Masters.
Thunderstorms have put an early end to the second round at the Indonesia Open, but that’s not what put an end to Colin Montgomerie’s chances of making the field in his 14th straight Masters. Montgomerie sits at -3 (the projected cut line) and is in jeopardy of missing the cut and not making the field for the 2005 Masters. Colin needed a win in this event to move into the top 50 in the world to secure a spot in this year’s first major.