For all the momentum behind plugging the gender gap in sport, there’s still a long way to go to achieve true parity, but there is hope
Columns
Irish Tour professionals saw all sides of life on the Safari Tour
Comedy, tragedy, and drama were a regular part of early season fare in Africa. Our own Liam Kelly was reminded of some of the stories in a recent chat with Eamonn Darcy
The Sound of Silence*
A recent social media poll asked the question, “Is the worst thing to happen to golf people listening to music on the course?” The result was close, too close. Where do you stand on music on the golf course?
Is PGA Championship favouritism fair on McIlroy?
Sunday two weeks ago at the Wells Fargo and Rory McIlroy rose from the ashes to claim an overdue PGA Tour win. He’s now favourite for Kiawah Island. A fair reflection of where his game is at or an example of how fickle golf can be?
The Fox (What Does The Fox Say?)*
Do you push your bag, pull it, or do you carry? All three could be detrimental, not just to your game, but to your height! At least according to PowaKaddy…
Bidding war is a bad look for golf
Talk lately has been far from cheap. It’s all about money, lots of it. When will enough be enough? Well, if your name’s Gates, Bezos or Buffett, then the answer is never. If it’s Mickelson, DeChambeau or Johnson, we’re about to find out
Post-Brexit – Ryder Cup fears over European Disunion
With no Ryder Cup possible on UK soil for at least a decade, Mike Wilson examines what the impact of the political and economic isolation brought about by Brexit might have on both the European Tour and its cash-cow spin-off, the Ryder Cup
Bjorn’s World Cup of Mixed Foursomes proposal
“I wonder how and why the World Cup of Golf doesn’t exist anymore? Bring it back as a combined men and women’s event,” Thomas Bjorn suggested. Is this an event we’d like to see?
Start this season as you mean to go on
Believe it or not, you need to start a round of golf before the first tee if you want to play well for the entire round. Here’s five sure-fire ways to improve your score with very little effort
Sports psychology? It’s all in your head!
For all the challenges golf presents, the six inches between the ears remains the place where titles are won and lost
No wonder Rory is off his game
The Chairman of the Player Advisory Council has had a lot to swallow off the course of late, not least a $40 million bonus pool that has been the talk of the PGA Tour for all the wrong reasons
Apples never fall far from trees
Gary Player made headlines for all the wrong reasons last week when his son Wayne hijacked Lee Elder’s ceremony of overdue recognition at The Masters. But was it the act of evil the media has portrayed it to be, or just a sad part of the Player DNA?
Lowry can feel whatever he likes – he’s human too
‘We’ve all made sacrifices this past year, Shane Lowry included. I’d be careful to comment that yours have been any greater than others. There’s always someone in this life who has it worse’
A proud day for Japan
Hideki Matsuyama has been tipped to light the Olympic torch this summer in Tokyo. Whether that happens or not, no doubt he’s lit a fire under the fairway ambitions of an already golf mad nation of Japan
Eamonn Darcy did not have a loop
‘Eamonn hardly looped at all. His idiosyncrasy was no more than his right elbow ‘popping out’ as he gathered full power to apply a ferocious blow in the hitting area; the result of playing the game almost entirely with his right hand and arm’
Latest news
Harrington hoping for a Wisconsin miracle in Sunday’s singles
Rory McIlroy will lead the line for Europe in Sunday’s singles knowing it’s win or bust as his team look to overturn a record-deficit ahead of the final round of this year’s Ryder Cup. McIlroy tasted defeat for the third time this week on Saturday, losing out 4&3...
Lowry having the week of his life & refusing to give in at Whistling
Shane Lowry insists he “won’t stop believing” in Europe’s quest to overturn an 11-5 deficit to the USA and win the Ryder Cup. The inspired Clara man clinched a crucial point alongside Tyrrell Hatton in the afternoon fourballs on Saturday as Europe drew the fourth...
Meadow makes the cut on the number after gutsy display in Arkansas
Stephanie Meadow ground out a one-over par round of 72 to make the cut on the number as Nasa Hataoka and Mijee Lee moved to 12-under par to lead ahead of the final round of the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship. Jordanstown professional Meadow traded two birdies and...
Frustrating moving day sends Hoey in wrong direction in Portugal
Despite a one-under 71 in his third round at Royal Óbidos, Michael Hoey slipped a couple of places down the Challenge Tour's Open de Portugal leaderboard after a frustrating day three. The Galgorm man looked to be heading for an over-par performance after three bogeys...
Harrington defends decision to leave McIlroy out of foursomes
European Captain Padraig Harrington has explained his decision to leave out Rory McIlroy from this morning's foursomes, believing five sessions would've been a big ask of the world number 15. McIlroy sits out his first ever Ryder Cup session after a disastrous opening...