Kevin04

The Scottish government banned golf in 1647

I am looking forward to the PGA. I really enjoyed watching Mickleson,Vijay,Lee & Appelby all fight it out last week at the bridgestone and looking forward to seeing the majority of the worlds best in action again. There is always something nice about watching golf in the evenings

Had a fantastic round last night, shot a 87 on a small 66 links course, really doing well on my irons right now and all around approach - if I could get my driving sorted out, I would be over the moon. Last night I hit about 2 fairways from 14 drives so I was delighted with my scrambling from the rough. This game really is nuts, last year I couldn't hit a Iron to save myself and now this summer I have struggled with my Driver bigtime.

I was a 35 handicap last year and now it's coming down although alot of this has to do with me learning alot of basics of golf, I only started playing reguarly last year and had no idea about ball position, posture, the mechanics of the swing etc and I have worked hard and can feel my golf improving, I'm going to have a real go again at the handicap in August and a big goal of mine is to get it down to near 20. A huge improvement in my golf game was my mental attitude, I've never been one to throw down clubs or shout on the course but I used to beat myself up about hitting a stupid shot and if i did poorly on a hole and scored a 8/9 or something, I'd be constantly thinking about that.. This year, I've been focusing on forget the last shot and remember the shot before or so which was a good one. Think to yourself ''Hey, I hit that 5 Iron straight 200 yards - a few shots ago, I can do it again'' I played the game of my life today - 43 on a 36 -9holes. I shanked a few drives and took 2 out of the sand on one hole scoring a 7, last year I'd have maybe fell apart but I forgot about it. Another fun game to play for a high handicaper is every hole is a par 5, so if you start poorly with a triple at the first you can always just think ''I'm only plus 2 and next up is a par 3 and if i manage a eagle(proper par) i'm back to even'' etc - it really is good way to enjoy the game for a high handicap and at the end of the round if you score a 100 - in the par 5 game you are only plus 10, it's all positive thinking. Go out there and have fun, nothing beats a good nice clear day and a day out with your pals. Good luck

Just probably played the greatest game of my life there. Played 9 on the local course (36) and shot a 43 including 4 GIRs.

par 4 - 434 yards tee shot sliced into the rough, I play on a links course. 210 yards from the hole - pulled out the Hybrid which got me about 4 ft from the hole to slot in for 3. When your handicap is roughly 25 ish, any birdie feels good

Strongest part - Chipping/Pitching from 20-60 yards from the Green and my putting, If I can make a GIR - I usually am delighted as I feel very good on the green Weakest - right now it has to be driving and last year it was my strongest, I am struggling bigtime with my drives at the moment although I managed to hit some good ones at the range yesterday. Course management - realising that my driving is poor and my Irons are improving, I will continue to hit driver - thinking/focussing/trying that I will fix my poor driving. I'm heading out tonight for 9 and if my first drive is terrible, I'm going to hit a Hybrid, 3wood of the tee for a few holes then possibly attempt the driver again. if all these things could come together at the right time, I'd maybe be an 'ok' golfer

Yay to Goydos. Jeev Miklha Singh

Played 9 tonight just before the mist and har came in, out of 36 I shot a 43 so delighted with that. tee shots were a bit shonky to say the least but my iron play helped me out a bit..

All the courses round my area are pretty much Links golf courses as I live on the coast near the sea. There are inland, parkland and woodland courses nearby too which I try as often to play also but reguarly play links golf and I have alot to thank to that, my golf is improving. I'm beginning to learn how to hit certain types of shots and also the ability to hit a shot and keep it under the wind is priceless on a links golf, although I'm a high handicaper, it's coming down but there's nothing more daunting that getting on the 1st tee and a hole that's only 340 yards away is blowing 30mph into your face..

K J Choi

1. Become scratch and become a pro 2. Be in contention to win major finals 3. Have enough money to support this I don't mind hitting roughs, missing cuts, just life on the tour and making a reasonably good living out of it would be simply amazing

It is really a tricky one, the nationality issue. There is a football/soccer player called Phillipe Senderos who could play for 4 nations, his father is spanish, mother is serb, lived for over 10years in france and he was born in Switzerland. It really depends on the individual and how he feels, you can't force people to be a certain nationality because they live in a certain country, they pay taxes. Can you change your nationality in golfing terms? for example in International Soccer you cannot, once you play for a nation that's you for life. I always thought Stephen Ames had (T&T;) beside his name before, did he not?

I seen it too and found it fun to watch as well, I placed an outside bet on Camillo at 100-1 at the start of the tournament due to a few good finishes in the US. I read a big interview in a local scottish paper today with him and really liked the way he came across, talking about how it was a difficult day with the wind and sometimes you had no idea where the ball was going but you just get on with it and try to enjoy it. Hardlines he didn't have a great day today but he plays some wonderful golf from the 4 days I seen of him.

I think Greg will hold his own and win it, he was under pressure today and conditions were tough but he still played brilliant. You would have no idea that Greg Norman is basically retired and plays more tennis than he does Golf. Unebelievable stuff.. I like Padraig and KJ too but I'd like to see KJ win, Padraig won last year and KJ comes across very well and a nice meaner about him.

Hey DDBowdoin, I totally agree with you about Rocco. The man seems as sound as a pound, His interview today was really refreshing, he seems like one of us, doing a job that he knows many folk would love to do but goes out and enjoys himself. a bit off topic but ''Ciamar a tha thu?'' I speak Scots Gaidhlig and noticed some Gaelige underneath your avator, always nice to see.

Would be something if Greg could win again.

Here is a weather update from the BBC page "It looks as though there will be little improvement on Friday for the second day of the Open at Royal Birkdale. It will be a mostly cloudy and windy day with some rain at times, the high a cool 16C (61F). " So could be more of the same tomorrow. As for the golf, It was on for around 12 hours in total here through BBC and their Interactive channel, amazing stuff. Delighted for Mediate, He comes across really well in his interviews, a true pro and does not throw his clubs down when he duffs a shot etc. Also great to see 'Sharkie' as Wayne Grady calls him, amazing thing about him and Goosen is apparently they've not played that much golf in the past few weeks, Goose even said in his post match interview something like ''chilling out at home, spending time with family, watching movies'' or something. Only a few hours til tomorrow, bring it on the action

Last year my driving was really good but my Iron play really poor and right now it seems to be the complete opposite, only started playing last year but last few times of the tee have been terrible, maybe too much magazine articles/tips. went out last night and played alot better with the driver than last 3/4 rounds. so far goals are to break 100 which I am doing quite reguarly, Irons and working slowly, putting is going very well which I am delighted about and I am finally confident with the wedge - it'd just be great if all these things went together on one day A realistic goal for me now is to get my handicap down to 20 by the end of the summer.

Played 8 holes until dark with a pal. shot a 39 out of 31 available, didn't feel like I played well at all with driving but was delighted with my recovery shots and putting especially.

Only thing good about my golfing ability right now is my betting, I placed McDowell & Jimnez e/way to finish top 5 at Loch Lomond so quite happy with my winnings I'm going to wait until Thursday before selecting but might have a go with Anthony Kim Anders Romero and 2 'favourites'

Sufjan Stevens - Decatur or round of applause for your stepmother.

I always like to back an outsider, I think I might stick a few £'s each way on Miguel Angel Anders Romero GMac (he's on terrific form right now, playing very well) Big Ern and a Scotsmans as always but I doubt it'll be Monty..

Very disappointing stuff today, first tee shot was a cracker as well. Did not play good at all and although it was gale force winds - I should be able to hit the ball decent in those conditions. Most disappointing for myself was lack of hitting greens on par 3s, always too short or a few scuffed tee shots, out of the 5 par 3s on the course - I scored 2 3s and 1 4 and 2 5s. Last few holes were a huge improvement so get back on that horse as they say. Shot a 100 overall on a par 73 course. I don't know about you guys but once I play poorly I just want to get out again and play again, maybe go later tonight for 9 holes

Well done QWKDTS, keep up the great work. I only started playing last year and my best score was 101-104 near the end of the season, In the winter I focused alot on my swing, the dynamics and course management even without playing, going to the driving range etc and I feel my game is really coming on (touch wood). I played 2 rounds this week, one on my home course where I shot a 92 which I was delighted with as a goal of my for 08 was to break 100 on my home course and a 85 on a 66course nearby, of course I'm not letting it get to my head as I am sure a 100plus round is round the corner but just keep working pal at your game, for example my pals who I play with (9hc and 14hc) use 9irons on 160par 3s and I go for a 3-4 punch swing with the 6 Iron - maybe not as attractive and flowing as their full 9 Irons but it works for me at this moment. One of my goals was stop 4s and 5s on par 3s and so far so good but I think my fear last year was I was to hit the ball too short or too long. My best shot this week was the 10th hole - a pond to the right and a more water on the right with a narrow fairway the best thing is to just keep it in play, I went wth the driver (usually can hit them quite straight) 308 yard par 4 and hit it straight landed 20feet from the pin and nailed my birdie.