Noting that hasn't been in the pages of GolfWorld, Sports Business Journal, Golf Week or Associated Press was presented in the LPGA's state of the Tour address from Commissioner Bivens
Carolyn Bivens gave her state of the LPGA Tour address on Wednesday in front of a standing room audience. Being stuck at home in Virginia, I have read what she said and stories that are coming in from those that were at the conference. Now for those that want to check out what Bivens says, you can see it here. But let me save you some time because basically Bivens didn't tell us anything that we didn't already know.
In looking at Bivens speech, the one thing that we have to remember and keep in context is that her three year term is not about this schedule in 2009 but it's more about what happens in 2010 and beyond. Since joining the Tour in 2005, Bivens has changed the way the LPGA does business, not only in areas in which the tour is marketed but the model that it's sponsors deal with. She has added revenue from these sponsors so that the LPGA tour's bottom line is in better shape. She has been at the fro-front in making sure that the LPGA owns more of it's product, as along with the Solheim Cup it owns the ADT Championship and now the McDonald's LPGA Championship. She was also very instrumental in gaining ownership of the Duramed Futures Tour to protect future opportunities for the LPGA. Bivens was the first major golf tour that attacked the problem of drug testing putting together a banned substance list and the actual process of the drug test. Bivens also made sure that the LPGA will be a part of the Olympics if that coalition is able to put golf on the program for the 2016 Olympics.
As sponsors go in her three years, she has added Corona, Ginn, Canadian National Railroads, Ricoh, Sanford Financial Group, Navistar, Proctor & Gamble, Banamex, Kapalua, Bell Micro, and Grand China Air as title sponsors. Bivens and her marketing team have worked hard in getting marketing partnerships with companies like Blue Diamond Almonds, Dry Grip, and Mirassou to name a few.
But more important Bivens has pinpointed and is championing what she feels her biggest challenge is, a better television scenario. At the same time she is in the process of changing the landscape of what the LPGA will look like and the way it makes money starting in 2010. There is no to ways about it, if Bivens completes her plan, the LPGA Tour will have a distinct look, much different than it looked under the leadership of Charles Mechem, Jim Ritts and Ty Votaw.
Still you have to wonder if she will be able to see this through. Despite all of her accomplishments the realization is that when she came into office, the future of the LPGA looked very bright. Young players like Lorena Ochoa, Paula Creamer, Morgan Pressel and Christie Kerr gave the LPGA Tour a can't miss label in 2005.
The last year that Ty Votaw did the schedule in 2005 the LPGA had 31 official events and played for a total of just under $44 million dollars. In 2009 the LPGA will play in the same number of official events, 31, but will compete for prize money of $60 million dollars, a nice boast in 4 years. To think that includes a $5 million drop in prize money from 2008 so the LPGA has made big strides in prize money under Bivens watch. Still there are some negatives with these numbers. First in 2005, 24 of these events were played in the United States, in 2009 only 20 will be played in the United States. In looking at the schedule in 2005, events played in Las Vegas, Nevada, Franklin, Tennesse, Stockbridge, Georgia, Atlantic City, New Jersey, New Rochelle, New York, Dublin, Ohio, Tulsa, Oklahoma, Los Angeles, California and West Palm Beach, Florida are no longer a part of the LPGA landscape. Cities like Houston, Texas, Maui, Rogers, Arkansas and Orlando Florida have been added but in the course of the biggest economic explosion and growth in the United States between the fall of 2005 and the summer of 2008, the LPGA missed out on a golden opportunity for even bigger growth.
Of course it would be easy to chronicle Biven's administrative missteps, but I am afraid that you would be reading a piece that is 5,000 words instead of 1,700 Still we don't have to talk about her missteps as much as her biggest problem, the total lack of communication. You look at Tim Finchem and his staff of media officials, they tell the media of anything that is happening, weather it's good news or bad. If some organization outside the tour breaks a story, it doesn't take the PGA Tour long to either confirm, deny or come out with a press release on it. Of course there are always sensitive items that the PGA Tour or even the LPGA Tour can talk about, but on the whole things are buttoned up by the PGA tour giving not only their players, but the media a sense of security that nothing is being hidden. A good example of this was last week, Tim Finchem went out of his way to reveal the 2009 PGA Tour schedule because he was afraid of rumors that could circulate on the demise of events because of sponsor pullout with the economy. Again, the PGA Tour was on the fro-front on this.
For the LPGA, more stories are revealed via Ron Sirak of Golf World, Beth Ann Baldry of Golf Week, Jon Show of Sports Business Journal or Doug Ferguson on Associated Press than by the LPGA media department. So instead of controlling the news, the LPGA has a media feeding frenzy on their hands. A perfect example of this was the English problem a couple of months ago, it took the LPGA a week and a half to finally address the problem which created a fire storm of bad publicity that will easily get the award in 2008 for the biggest unresolved sports problem that created the biggest problem.
Another example of all this is Bivens Wednesday press conference. She didn't tell the media anything that they didn't already know and left out other items that should of been mentioned
First of all, why didn't the LPGA tell us that the Tulsa group was forced to give up their spot because they couldn't find a sponsor? We learned about it on Tuesday via Associated Press and the folks that ran the Tulsa stop, but again nothing from the LPGA. Then the revelation on Wednesday morning from Randall Mell of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. In that piece, ADT president John Koch is quoted as saying that the renewal pricing was the reason for dropping sponsorship. Koch would not divulge the increase price but GolfObserver has learned its between a a million to a million and a half dollars. A good portion of the price was the LPGA adding network coverage on Saturday, something that ADT doesn't pay for now. Still you have to think of the negation wisdom of Bivens to allow this to happen. If ADT wasn't going to pay the extra freight for 2010, why didn't Bivens keep it on the 2009 schedule at the same price and try to get it on the 2010 schedule at a later time? Bivens had to know in September that the economy was going bad, she should of done everything in her power to retain ADT, even on a short term basis. I would venture to say if you ask any golf fan to list the most important events of the LPGA Tour, the ADT would probably be second behind the U.S. Women's Open and the reason people love the ADT is because of it's exciting format. Again, did Bivens take this into account in dropping the event? On top of all this we still don't know what the future of the ADT is, I guess that Bivens may not have this answer but I can assure you that if it's not in the same format their will be a price for her to pay from the players. Again, not word on any of that from Bivens.
Will this be the last time that Donald Trump and his course Trump International will be a part of this event?
While were talking about ADT Championship, why didn't Bivens tell us the status of Donald Trump and the fact that his golf course has held this event for eight years. Trump is an important person in the development of this event, couldn't she find a moment to thank Trump and say that they would love teaming up with him in the future? Again, on Thursday we had to learn from Randall Mell that the Donald has said that talks between the LPGA and ADT have started up again and that it could return to Trump International. Again, nothing from the LPGA Tour.
Lastly was this piece of information from Bill Huffman of the East Valley Tribune that the Phoenix event will probably stay at Superstition Mountain in 2009 and could move to Papago Golf Course, one of the leading public courses in the country. Again this gives a feeding frenzy at the stake of the LPGA which doesn't seem to control their own news.
Of course the picture isn't totally bad for Bivens and the LPGA Tour, she did a good job in buying some more time to work things out for 2010. But if Bivens is smart she would read this story by one of golf's leading writers that thankfully is still employed, Steve Elling of the CBS Sportsline. In the story he relates that Bivens did OK in her speech but that big challenges loom for her and the rest of the sports world. What makes the story good is the hints that Bivens should think that maybe getting networks involved isn't in her future, that she can do as well with ESPN and Golf Channel. But more importantly is the fact that in a bad economy having just a half dozen sponsors signed beyond 2009 is a scary thing.
So in my wish list to Santa Claus for next year, I hope that Bivens and her staff can do a better job in communications and be on the fro-front of things. In talking with some players off the record they say that patients is growing thin on several fronts and there is growing discourse because of the lack of communications. A lot of people love the LPGA Tour and it's players and we only want to see great things happen in the future, but if Bivens doesn't do things right in the next couple of months she could be putting coal under the 2009 Christmas tree for her membership with a very, very dim 2010 in the cards.
India's Jeev Milkha Singh held off the combined challenges of Major Padraig Harrington and Ernie Els to win the Barclays Singapore Open by a shot, what this win means for Singh and the Event.
Jeev Milkha Singh wins the Barclays Singapore Open.
You can say that both the Barclays Singapore Open and Jeev Milka Singh have both arrived on the world stage.
First you have Singh's gutsy victory with a final round 69 and despite playing his final six holes in 2 over par was able to win when his playing partner Padraig Harrington missed a five foot birdie putt on the final hole and then in the next group Ernie Els missed a 15-foot birdie putt. For both of them they had frustrating finishes, the worst coming from Harrington who started his final round making birdies on 3 of his first four holes, then not making a birdie the rest of the day. The end surely came when he hit in the water on 16 and made a double bogey.
Many know that Singh is the son of of one of India's greatest athletes, Milkha, who won gold medal's in the Asian Games in 1958 and 1962 while running the 200 and 400 meter races. He represented India as a sprinter in the 1960 and '64 Olympics.
Singh was nine under in his last 54 holes of play at the Barclays Singapore Open.
What many don't know about Singh is that he attended Abilene Christian University in Texas and in 1996 obtained a degree in business and international studies. Singh won a number of amateur events in the United States and was the NCAA Division II individual golf champion in 1993. Soon after that win he turned pro and won the 1993 Southern Oklahoma State Open. Singh has tried to qualify for the PGA Tour several times but only made it to the finals in 2001 and 2002 never coming close.
What many also don't know about Singh was that he has endured many wrist, back and shoulder injuries in his career. Between 1999 and 2002 was some of his most trying problems with these injuries and didn't play that much. He was able to overcome it and play full-time in 2005 but even today has problems. An example of this, on Saturday he injured his neck while hitting some balls and if it wasn't for his physio Philipa, who administered rub downs to loosen the muscles, he probably wouldn't of been able to continue on Sunday, let alone win.
Even in bunkers like this, Singh was in control of his game as he shot 69 on Sunday
Singh won numerous events on the Asian Tour between 1995 and 1999 but his biggest break came in 2006. He won four times on the Asian Tour, Japan Tour and European Tour but the first one at the Volvo China Open was his most important win. It came after his wrist got better but more importantly it was in a event that was co-sponsored with the European Tour. That meant that he regained his membership on that Tour. He played on the European Tour in 1998 after becoming the first Indian to qualify for that tour but he had numerous poor years in which he only finished inside the top 100 of the order of merit once between 1998 and 2006.
Of course the Volvo China was a big win but one of his biggest streaks was at the end of the year when he won the Volvo Masters followed by wins in the Casio World Open and the Golf Nippon Series, both in Japan. At the start of the year he was 376 in the world rankings and finished the year 37th in the world. Not only did he win the order of Merit on the Asian Tour in 2006, he finished 16th on the order of merit in Europe and notched no fewer than 15 other top-10s on the Asian, Japan and European Tours. With all of that he got to play in the United States in 1997, becoming the first Indian to play in the Masters, finishing 37th and had a 36th place finish in the U.S. Open.
Singh gets congratulated from Padraig Harrington after they finished the final hole on Sunday.
Singh continued playing around the world but has mostly played on the European Tour where he was 46th in the order of merit in 2007 and then 12th last year. Sparking off his year was his second European Tour win at the Bank Austria Golf Open five months ago. He finished in the top-10, eight times including runner-up finishes in the Indonesia Open and the Ballantine's Championship. Singh also played in one World Golf Championship and two majors, having his first top-ten major finish with a T9th at the PGA Championship.
Despite all of that Singh was looking for something to spark his career. This win will do a lot, the $792,500 has just about won him the Asian Tour order Merit and with earnings of $1.4 million he becomes the first person on the Asian Tour to win over a million dollars in a year. Singh has also proved himself on a world platform, the Barclays Singapore Open had TV exposure including over 20 live hours on Golf Channel. He was able to beat out Padraig Harrington, Ernie Els and Phil Mickelson on the final day. And with the win he will climb from 60th in the World Rankings into the top-50. If he can maintain that top-50 ranking at the start of the year he will get to play in the majors.
With the win Singh will probably win the Asian Tour order of merit for 2008 and get into the top-50 of the world rankings.
As for the Barclay's Singapore Open, the tournament has climbed into an upper level. Unfortunately for it to grow it's got to climb out of it's spot and join the European Tour. For months now the rumors have been that the event was going to be on the European Tour schedule in 2009. In looking at the schedule there is a TBC between October 29th and November 1st, supposedly this was the slot that it would fill. But we never got an official announcement this week so it's in limbo.
Of course it's not very easy making events on both tours. A lot of negotiation takes place and since this is the biggest event on the Asian Tour that makes it harder. Right now the Asian Tour has a good TV package for this event, if it goes over to the European Tour it has to be a part of European Tour productions. Also, there is the give take on who gets to play it, right now it's open to members of the Asian Tour, that would get cut in half to allow European Tour members to play in it. Lastly we don't know what kind of shape Barclays Bank is in right now and there could be a possibility that they aren't willing to give the same amount as this year. That will be a shame because one of the reasons that the even is so good is getting the likes of Phil Mickelson, Padraig Harrington, Ernie Els, Adam Scott and Darren Clarke. These folks aren't in Singapore out of the kindness of their hearts and an appearance fee has been worked out. So we don't know the status of this. One thing is you have to think that Phil Mickelson, playing in his second Barclays Singapore Open had to know something about the structure of this event for next year if he wasn't willing to take European Tour membership this year.
Still this was a great event to watch even though it was on in the middle of the night. But golf seriously needs a November boost since we haven't seen this good of a field since the Tour Championship. One mention should go to either Golf Channel or the Barclays Singapore sponsors, it was great to see it live and not a two hour highlight show a day later like last year, thanks for doing it the right way this year.
Your questions answered on why Phil Mickelson didn't join the European Tour, what is Carolyn Bivens going to say next week, new things for Golf Channel and officially ESPN will do the British Open for the next nine years.
I know that the average golf fan would love to be able to attend a professional golf press conference and ask a player or official any kind of questions. For the media it's a bit different, I know that I sit in these things and sometimes get bored because the best writers never ask those really juicy questions.
Phil Mickelson announced last week that he won't join the European Tour in 2009.
The big question of the week on a lot of peoples minds is Phil Mickelson joining the European Tour. Why didn't it happen?
Back in May at Colonial the first story appeared on this when Andrew Both asked Phil Mickelson if he would join the European Tour and he said, "I don't have any immediate plans to do that, but I certainly wouldn't rule it out in the future."
This pretty much died down until just after the Ryder Cup when stories like this by Graham Otway ran on how Mickelson was getting ready to write a check for £115 to join the European Tour. After the announcement on October 6th on the schedule for the Race To Dubai, steam was gaining on Mickelson joining and on October 29th in a telephone interview with Mickelson, he told several writers including Martin Parry that "although I haven't yet joined (the European Tour), it is something I am certainly considering."
So what happened in a matter of just two weeks that Mickelson went from going to join the European Tour to in this story from Colin Pereira in PA Sport which Mickelson said he wasn't joining the European Tour in 2008? Of course the right question was never asked of Mickelson, what was the killer blow for him not joining the Tour. He did say in the press conference "It wasn't quite right for me time-wise but I have still made a commitment to play more golf internationally and I do believe that it's very possible that, in the near future, it will be in my plans."
So what happen on this is our big question. It seems a lot of things happened that messed it up in the last month. In talking with several members of the European media we can see the reasons that he was going to join. Back in September the requirement for European Tour membership was 11 events. With the four majors and three World Golf Championships that meant that Mickelson only needed four more for membership. With Mickelson playing in the HSBC Champions this month, the Barclay's Scottish Open over the summer that got him up to nine. With the start of the Race to Dubai coming in November of this year, the HSBC will be played twice in the 2009 season so that added another one bringing him up to ten. Back in September it also looked like the Barclays Singapore Open was going to be added to the European Tour schedule next year so that would bring him up to 11 with The Dubai World Championship next year being the 12th, one over the limit. Even when the Tour raised the requirement of membership to 12 from 11, it seemed no problem for Mickelson.
Then rumors started flying around the Volvo Masters that Mickelson was looking for appearance money from the folks that run the Open de France, which just happen to be the week before the Barclays Scottish Open. In looking at it, Mickelson could of played in three straight events in July, the French Open, the Barclays Scottish Open and the British Open. But in contacting officials of the French Open they wouldn't speak about Mickelson but said that they don't give appearance money period. Also during the week other rumors surfaced that put the pieces together in all of this. Seems that the folks at Barclays weren't very happy that Mickelson was playing in a competing banks golf tournament. Mickelson countered saying that he had made the commitment and that he was the defending champion. So that was another strike against Mickelson, because he won't be able to play in the HSBC Champions in November of 2009. But the killer blow was not getting an agreement together for the Barclays Singapore Open on the European Tour circuit. Now the deal could go through, for all we know if may be a done deal right now but Mickelson had to join the European Tour before the start of the HSBC Champions. If he didn't and joined it the week after, the previous event would not count against his 12 starts. So with the prospect of the Barclays Singapore Open not being on the schedule in 2009, not playing in the HSBC next year and nothing else in the hopper for 2009 even if the Singapore Open would of joined the European Tour Mickelson would still be one short of playing 11 in time for the Dubai World Championship, so that was the reason for Phil not joining.
Next up we look at the schedules for 2009. This week the PGA Tour came out with the 2009 schedule and they have a full slate of returning events and despite the bad shape that the economy is in around the world you have to think what a great job Tim Finchem and his staff did in keeping things together.
One interesting item on this was the story that Steve Elling had in which he talked about the bad economy and the fact that even with ironclad contracts there is one scenario that could upset the apple cart, bankruptcy. PGA Tour communications VP, Ty Votaw, agreed with that and told Elling, "if that was to transpire, we'd be standing there in line along with all the other creditors." With the big three automakers in trouble and three events (Buick Invitational, Bob Hope Chrysler Classic and Buick Open) sponsored by those automakers that could be ugly thing that hopefully won't happen.
The Champions Tour came out with their schedule and lost three events, in Turtle Bay, Hawaii, the Back of American Championship in Concord, Massachusetts and the Commerce Bank Championship in East Meadow, New York. Again this looks bad on the surface but you have to look at how ugly it would of been if the Champions Tour and some local events didn't do some quick work. Next year two events in Hawaii and Austin got saved with last minute sponsorships so three isn't as bad when you think it could of been five.
So now we have to look at one tour that hasn't weight in yet, the LPGA Tour. Next week at the ADT Championship Carolyn Bivens will be making probably the most important speech of her career. She will release her 2009 schedule (we hope) and what the state of the LPGA Tour is going to be. Bivens is in the third year of her term and frankly her ratings are about as high as President Bush.
In looking at her three-year term it's not been very fruitful, still during the summer Rae Evans and the rest of the board of directors gave Bivens a three year extension, locking her at the helm to the summer of 2011. One of the big agendas on Bivens plate since she join the tour in 2005 was to shepherd in a new TV contract for 2010 and to not only get network participation but to get a rights fee instead of having to do buy-ins for TV exposure. With the clock ticking away to 2010, a bad economy getting worst, terrible golf ratings on the PGA Tour and Bivens having to spend a lot of time trying to dig herself out of her English speaking rule it's now time to see how close she is to meeting her goals. So next week we are going to get a very good indication of all of this.
So what could transpire in this press conference and what questions could come up? First will be what happen to the relationship with ADT. This partnership started with it's move to Florida in 2001 and has been good. It was a shock to the players at a October 14th players meeting when Bivens announced their pull out. Several sources wonder if Bivens dealing with ADT didn't force them to leave. First is the move from November to February and the fact that Bivens was looking for a bigger fee to get network television. The question that could come out is that maybe this caused ADT to drop the event. Still things aren't a total lost since the LPGA does own the event and they will get a new sponsor, even thought it's been a tough proposition, just look at the problems in getting one for Phoenix.
Adding to Bivens problems were players not happy seeing the event move away from 2009 and starting the 2010 season with the largest first place check on tour, also putting a damper on not being played in 2009. Players also have indicated that the first part of the 2009 schedule was as one put it "ugly" Right now we know that the sponsors that won't be back in 2009 is Fields, that put on the event in Hawaii, Safeway that had the Phoenix event, SemGroup Championship which had the Tulsa event, Ginn Tribute the event in South Carolina and of course ADT. Now the Phoenix event is supposedly going to be done by the LPGA Tour and the SemGroup has another sponsor so with ADT moving to early 2010 the loss of events should only be three.
But the big question will be what is the state of negotiations with CBS and NBC. At the beginning of the summer rumors floated around that both networks were talking with the LPGA to air 11 events in 2010. Is that going to happen? Next question, if it does happen did they pay a rights fee? As for the status of ESPN its no secret that they don't expect to do any golf past the 2009 contract and talks between the network and Bivens have been unproductive. Even the Golf Channels deal was up in the air but we are now hearing that negations are either taking place or a deal is in place for Golf Channel doing the whole 2010 schedule. In contacting Golf Channel they had no comment on the rumor.
So as you can see, this meeting next week is going to be very important and it will be interesting to see what Bivens has to say and how she responds to the media which she has a very cold relationship with.
In talking about the Golf Channel we have to bring up some news that has come to light. Last month in the "Buzz" we looked at how Golf Channels new programing director, Tom Stathakes has shaken the production values at the channel. We have found out that Nick Faldo, who is very high up Stathakes list of positives will be back in 2009. He will be at the Mercedes Championship, now who he sits next to is still up in the air. But in another positive move, Stathakes has replaced it's lead producer Keith Hirshland with Brandt Packer. This is being taken as wonderful news by many, including folks at the Golf Channel and the Tour that have know Packer since he produced the last year of ABC shows. Since leaving ABC, were he produced the last year in 2006 including the British Open, Packer has been Golf Channel's producer of Champions Tour events. In the last couple of months in talking with people on those shows they all had a great experience working with Packer and found that he enhanced the shows. Time will tell if he can help enhance the first three shows from Hawaii and Palm Springs, but my guess in seeing his work is that Golf Channel will be in a lot better hands.
Talking about Golf Channel programing, we have know that shows like the Sprint pre and post game are great with Frank Nobilo and Tim Rosaforte. But they tend to drag when those two aren't there, but over the weekend GolfWeek's Jeff Rude was on and showed a lot of promise. He was well versed on storylines and quick on his feet in answering questions. I feel that he has a great future ahead of him doing this but Jeff, cut off the facial hair. Also management has gotten smarter on some shows, last year they aired the Singapore Open in a two hour highlight package, a day later, it was terrible. This year it's live and has full four and five hour windows, way to go Golf Channel.
Lastly what has been rumor for over a year finally became official today as the R&A have announced that they have a new contract with ESPN and ABC Sports to televise the British Open and the Senior British Open for 8 years. The deal places all four days of live coverage of the British Open on ESPN but in a bit of a twist, there will be three hours a day of afternoon highlights on ABC over the weekend. The agreement also includes coverage of the 2011 and 2015 Walker Cup but what may be important over the years is the agreement that ESPN will have coverage in other countries like Canada, Mexico, Latin America, parts of South America, Asia and digital rights in every country except China.
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Matt Bettencourt wins the Nationwide Tour Championship and the money title
On Friday September 5th when Matt Bettencourt missed the cut at the Utah Championship, little did he think at the time when he was 77th on the money list that in
Matt Bettencourts jumps on his caddie J.J. Jakovac to celebrate the birdie he made on 18 to win the Nationwide Tour Championship by one.
the next seven weeks he would win finish 5th in the Albertsons Boise Open, win the Oregon Classic, finish runner-up at the Miccosukee Championship and then win the Nationwide Tour Championship and shot up to become the leading money winner of the Nationwide Tour in 2008.
Bettencourt won thanks to a birdie on the 72nd hole for a 69 and a one shot winner over Jeff Klaukurt who shot 65, Bryce Molder, the overnight co-leader, made bogey on 16 and 17 which dropped him two back and into a T3rd with Colt Knost. Despite the disappointment of not winning, Molder's position was good enough to earn him a spot in the Top-25, he finished the year 23rd. Finishing 24th was Matt Weibring and Ricky Barnes was 25th. Even though David Branshaw shot 68 it wasn't good enough and his T11th put him $3,582 behind Barnes.
Not to play Monday quarterback but for Branshaw a bogey, par, par finish was the reason that prevented him an exemption onto the PGA Tour because if he could of finished T9th it would of put him past Barnes. Another player kicking himself has to be Hunter Haas who started the final round T9th and his final round 72 dropped him into a T21st. If he could of just shot 70 it would of given him enough money to finish in the top-25. Lastly Chris Tidland will have a sleepless night or two, he entered the week 25th on the money list and with rounds of 71-72-69-70 he finished T42nd and made $4,125. If Tidland could of finished T16th or better which was seven strokes better, he would of made the $15,647 difference that he needed to finish in the top-25.
Still the week along with the last two months go to Bettencourt. To show what I mean, on Wednesday he was in jeopardy of missing the Nationwide as he was terrible pain and on the way home he took a detour to the Medical Center of Plano. As he told the press this weekend, "I walked in there and said, 'I feel like I'm going to die,'" he said. "I was worried it was my appendix." But a couple of hours later he was able to pass the stones and able to tee it up the next morning and as they say in the movies, "the rest is history."
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Oliver Wilson leads by one over Geoff Ogilvy, Mickelson & Garcia two back
Oliver Wilson is just 16 holes away from his first European Tour victory, only problem is that he has Geoff Ogilvy one back and Sergio Garcia and Phil Mickelson two back.
Shanghai, China, November 9:
England’s Oliver Wilson continued to maintain his lead by taking a one shot lead over former US Open champion Geoff Ogilvy of Australia after playing two holes of his fourth round at the HSBC Champions on Sunday.
Going into Monday's final round Oliver Wilson (middle) leads Geoff Ogilvy by a shot and Phil Mickelson (left bottom), and Sergio Garcia (far right) by two
Ogilvy, meanwhile posted a bogey and birdie to end the day in even par after the fading light brought play to a halt. Defending champion Phil Mickelson of the United States, who completed the final group alongside Wilson and Ogilvy, is a further shot behind in third with Sergio Garcia of Spain.
Earlier in the day, Wilson shot a three-under-par 69 to take the lead after the third round on 12-under-par 204 total, with the final round now scheduled to move into Monday. Ogilvy, who started the day T3rd, moved up one place to second after carding a 70 to finish on 205 while Mickelson, Garcia and Sweden’s Henrik Stenson were bunched together in third on matching 206s. Thailand's Prayad Marksaeng maintained his position as the best from Asia when he posted a 71 to place him tied for eighth on 209.
The battle for supremacy began with Wilson having to battle the strong winds to stay in touch with the leaders, having started the day a single shot behind joint-overnight leaders Garcia and Stenson. “It was tough today. Definitely the toughest day we've had so far. It was cold this morning. Some of the longer par-fours all played into the wind today and the pin positions were pretty tough as well,” said Wilson who is hoping for his breakthrough win this week.
Wilson started his move when he nailed a birdie on the second hole. He followed up with another birdie on the 12th after the turn, before giving one stroke back with a bogey at 13th. However, with two more birdies on the 14th and 16th on his homeward run, Wilson broke away from the chasing pact to enjoy a slender one-stroke lead at the top. “Any time you're leading, it has got to be the best place to be. I would like a few more shots, but I’m happy to be here, playing really nicely, playing solid and hopefully I can keep that going onto this afternoon,” added Wilson.
Meanwhile, recent Ryder Cup winner and current world number eight, Anthony Kim of the United States was disqualified for using a damaged driver.
Tournament organizers underlined the growing stature of the event by deciding to continue the event into Monday so that the event can be decided over 72 holes, after inclement weather forced play for round two to be abandoned on Friday. Support of the players for the decision to complete the fourth round on Monday is also an indication of how far the staging of events in Asia has come. “This tournament is of global significance so, of course, we should play to a finish,” said current world number three, Garcia.
Leading third round scores
204 - Oliver Wilson (ENG) 67-68-69
205 - Geoff Ogilvy (AUS) 70-65-70,
206 - Henrik Stenson (SWE) 65-69-72, Sergio Garcia (ESP) 66-68-72, Phil Mickelson (USA) 66-70-70
208 - Adam Scott (AUS) 66-71-71, Charl Schwartzel (RSA) 69-72-67
209 - Prayad Marksaeng (THA) 68-70-71, Peter Hanson SWE) 69-70-70, Paul Casey (ENG) 71-70-68
210 - Alvaro Quiros (ESP) 70-67-73
211 - Damien Mcgrane (IRL) 68-71-72, Richard Sterne (RSA) 71-69-71
212 - Graeme Mcdowell (NIR) 71-65-76, Andrew Mclardy (RSA) 69-69-74 , Liang Wen-chong (CHN) 71-69-72, Soren Hansen (DEN) 71-70-71
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Henrik Stenson leads Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcia, Anthony Kim and Adam Scott by 1
Race to Dubai got off to a great start in China as Henrik Stenson shot 65 to take the first round lead but the big news is the players that are just one off the lead.
Shanghai, China, November 6: Sweden’s Henrik Stenson was the shot an opening seven-under-par 65 to take the first round lead on Thursday.
On a foggy, rainy day in China as Henrik Stenson shot 65 and leads defending champion Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcia, Anthony Kim and Adam Scott by a shot.
The 32-year-old Swede had six birdies and one eagle against a lone bogey to take a slender one shot lead over tournament marquee names that include defending champion Phil Mickelson and Anthony Kim from the United States, Australia’s Adam Scott and current world number three, Sergio Garcia from Spain.
They are all bunched together tied for second after posting matching 66s under wet and cold weather conditions at the Sheshan International Golf Club.
Thailand’s Prayad Marksaeng was Asia’s best contender, returning with a 68 to take a share of eighth place while Malaysia’s fast-rising star, Ben Leong and Chinese Taipei’s Lin Wen-tang are among the mix in tied-14th after recording 69.
The day began for Stenson not in the most ideal way when he dropped a shot at the opening 459-yards par-four one. However, that opening blemish only halted his charge momentary.
The Swede got his game going when he sank an eagle on the second, followed by three successive birdies starting from the third and another one on the eight before reaching the turn at five-under.
“I started really poorly with a bogey on the first, and then hit a three wood to probably about six feet on the second, and made that one for eagle and that kind of got me started.,” said Stenson , who continued his impressive homeward run with two more birdies on the 16th and 18th.
“Today, I was more in a scoring mode and got the job done and sometimes that can be more pleasing when you actually can shoot seven under par without playing great,” added Stenson, who is looking to add a seventh European Tour win to his record.
Another marquee name, Padraig Harrington from Ireland is T14th place with a round of 69.
Leading first round scores
65 - Henrik Stenson (SWE)
66 - Phil Mickelson (USA), Adam Scott (AUS),Anthony Kim (USA), Sergio Garcia (ESP)
67 - Marc Cayeux (ZIM), Oliver Wilson (ENG)
68 - Thomas Levet (FRA), Damien Mcgrane (IRL), Prayad Marksaeng (THA),Peter Lawrie (IRL),Gregory Bourdy (FRA),Ian Poulter (ENG)
69 - Andrew Mclardy (RSA),Scott Strange (AUS),Felipe Aguilar (CHI),Ben Leong (MAS), Charl Schwartzel (RSA), Peter Hanson (SWE), Ross Fisher (ENG), Lin Wen-tang (TPE), Padraig Harrington (IRL), Robert Karlsson (SWE)
A look at some suggestions from the owner of one of Ireland's most popular golf courses.
Editors note:
On Tuesday Karl MacGinty from the Irish Independent ran this story on how the Irish Open needed help, even going as far as saying that the Irish Open needed a government bailout (really what's more important bailing out the banks or bailing out the Irish Open?). The story paints a dire picture of the classic event that has been played since 1927. The European Tour has already indicated that the tournament had to stand on it's own and frankly with the economic times being the way it is, the future of this old dame looks in serious trouble.
In a phone conversation with an old friend, Pat Ruddy, who owns the European Club one of the most popular courses in Ireland, we talked about the future of the tournament. Ruddy is a regular contributor of the Sunday Irish Tribune and wrote a story about this problem last May. He was kind enough to update it for all of our GolfObserver readers. Sal Johnson - Golfobserver.Com
Pat Ruddy with some suggestions for the Irish Open
As the Irish Open bumps along from crisis to crisis, with its very existence seemingly in doubt, one hopes that a suggested saving of €1-million ($1,285,698) might help.
All the talk is of the need to raise more money. Hit the government for a bigger input...... an unlikely happening in the present economic climate..... and seek patriots amongst the business community who will be happy to contribute heavily for little more than a spot in the pre-championship pro-am. Go on bended knee to the European Tour !
Nobody, it seems, is taking a more sane stance and assessing the actual worth of the event. Nobody seems willing to ask the hard questions of the European Tour regarding the absence of so many top players. There seems to be little quantification of the value for money.
In fact, this year's type of field was worth no more than €1.5-million ($1,928,548) in prize-money rather than the €2.5-million ($3,214,247) paid.
A listing of the twenty "national open championships" on this year's European Tour (chart on the bottom right) shows that exactly half of them pay €1.5-million or less in their prize-funds. Why the same product should cost so much more when it comes to Ireland is impossible to fathom. A full €1-million is the overspend on prize-money alone.
Pride may stand between Ireland and reality. But the reality is that the Irish Open is in the second division by vote of the players who stayed away in droves and who are likely to stay away in droves even if a further €1-million is added to the prize-fund rather than subtracted from it.
Only four of the World's Top-50 players were at Adare Manor this year. Almost half of Europe's Top-20 stayed away. Only Padraig Harrington and Paul Lawrie represented the winners, recent or ancient, of golf's major titles. The product was weak and second class.
Missing from the field were European Tour stars Sergio Garcia (a past winner), Justin Rose, Luke Donald, Ian Poulter, Paul Casey, Nick Dougherty, Miguel Jimenez, Jose Olazabal, Thomas Bjorn (a past winner), Thomas Levet, Henrik Stenson, Niclas Fasth, Soren Hansen and Peter Hedblom ... to name but a few! Overseas stars were totally absent unlike previous years when appearance money attracted names like Tom Watson, Ben Crenshaw and Hubert Green and everyone got a thrill in what were essentially simpler days before saturation television coverage of the game.
This year, only for the fact that Lee Westwood and Irishmen Padraig Harrington, Paul McGinley, Darren Clarke and their Irish colleagues supported their own event it would have been a fiasco.
This is nothing new. Sergio Garcia hasn't played in the Irish Open since 2000; Justin Rose hasn't played since 2002; Luke Donald has been absent since 2004; and Ian Poulter skipped 2005, 2007 and 2008.
This is to blame nobody. Fact of the matter is that there are too many tournaments for the players to support. The European Tour has over fifty events in the year and knows it cannot produce a full field for them all, no more than any of the other tours can do, but likes to get paid premium prices for a sub-premium advertising product.
The European Tour continues to play with smoke and mirrors and talk of Ryder Cup heroics in order to bolster the prize-fund. It is doing what it always does, what it is chartered to do, by raising as much money as it can. Whether the product is a wise investment, or a productive investment, for the sponsors and whether the Ryder Cup players actually show-up or not are amongst questions seldom aired.
This is the way of professional golf. It has been like this always. The history of the game is littered with forgotten sponsors who thought that they could buy a lasting place in the sun. In fact, when a better offer arises elsewhere the various Tours always move along and only the majors survive.
Meanwhile, what is the advertising gain for a venue from the promotion of a tournament? Look at the list of twenty open championships on this year's European Tour and name the courses on which they are played.
A prize for anyone who can name 50% of them!
Purse
Event
Winner
1. €5,335,867
British Open
Padraig Harrington
2. €4,000,000
French Open
Pablo Larrazabal
3. €3,764,887
Scottish Open
Graeme McDowell
4. €2,490,680
Irish Open
Richard Finch
5. €2,258,932
Welsh Open
Scott Strange
6. €2,011,982
Spanish Open
Peter Lawrie
7. €1,713,022
Qatar Masters
Adam Scott
8.€1,707,641
Italian Open
Hennie Otto
9. €1,700,703
Dubai Classic
Tiger Woods
10. €1,793,300
Dutch Open
Darren Clarke
11. €1,541,157
Hong Kong Open
Miguel Jimenez
12. €1,446,407
Asian Open
Darren Clarke
13. €1,387,562
China Open
Damian McGrane
14. €1,347,504
Abu Dhabi C'ship
Martin Kaymer
15. €1,319,253
Malaysian Open
Arjun Atwal
16. €1,300,000
Austrian Open
Jeev Milkha Singh
17. €1,259,345
Portuguese Open
Gregory Bourdy
18. € 991,600
South African Open
James Kingston
19. € 838,630
Indonesia Open
Felipe Aguilar
20. € 767,989
New Zealand Open
Richard Finch
Post-Ryder Cup Ireland is much the same as it was before the big bang of 2006 at The K-Club. Kentucky and Valhalla will soon settle back to normal life after this year's Ryder Cup match. When the PGAs ride out of town with bulging money-belts and the euphoria dies everything will be more-or-less as before. Maybe a study of the ongoing commercial benefits to golf in a region for hosting the Ryder Cup would be worth reading.
Meantime, many things have changed in Europe. For example, the modern rush of venues seeking to host tournaments has increased. In particular venues with something more than golf to sell. Like hotel bedrooms or houses. The rush is so intense that the matter of a facility fee has gone out the window to be replaced with a facility contribution.
It was common practice for a big event to pay a decent fee to the host venue to compensate for lost revenues, to contribute towards staff overtime and to help put the course back together again after it had been trampled for days by the galleries. Now, in a magnificent double-whammy the tournaments have by-passed that cost and imposed a charge instead on the venues for the right to be host! Talk about golf venues shooting themselves in the foot.
Sponsors have been injured even more deeply. Especially those who spend more-and-more money in the hope that the top players will show up. In fact, a study of the past shows that a bigger prize-fund guarantees nothing other than increased risk. With a tournament virtually every week of the year, and the top players needing to divide their time between various tours, it is inevitable that most events will have relatively weak fields. Added prize-money will not overcome that problem as the players cannot be everywhere.
Which raises the question of appearance fees without which the average tournament cannot hope to attract big names. Appearance fees are a fact of life these days. But tournaments can shop for only a few players as everyone will want appearance money once it becomes available. Professional sport is a deadly morass for those who venture into it as promoters or sponsors and only the toughest will survive and only a few of those will make a gain.
The gain is advertising plain and simple. Professional golf is in the advertising business despite the fact that some of the players don't seem to realise this when they come to town and shoot from the lip about the unfairness of the golf course and unsuitability of the date and weather. They should be paid to stay away.
A poem about golf, monsters and Padraig Harrington
St. Padraig and The Monster
Though Oakland Hills is fair and green There lurks a fearsome peril there. A terror sleeps, though now unseen, It wakens soon from evil dreams, With slavering jaws and talons keen. Brave heroes would its claws ensnare To tear asunder those who dare And feast upon their dying screams.
For decades did its legend grow, More terrible each time the tales, The bane of golfers high and low Its vicious, terrifying blow Courageous valor overthrows. The Monster rules these hills and dales! No blade can penetrate its scales. Defeat and death its foes shall know.
And so alarums far and wide Throughout the land did peal and ring. “Oh whither can the people fly? From this foul beast we cannot hide. We beg some brave heart, turn the tide! Let this foul creature feel the sting, Of speeding arrow, sword and sling, Let no more pretty widows cry.
“Oh great kings, you must set us free, The Monster wakes to soon hold sway! Sir Tiger can’t, he hurt his knee, He’s far away across the sea Aboard a yacht called “Privacy.” Bright silver will we give away, And fame beyond your dying day. Please save us!” rang their frightened plea.
So mighty knights from far and near Responded to the desperate call. Forsaking all that they hold dear, With courage would they conquer fear And boldly face The Monster’s leer. “On bended knee the beast will crawl, And songs shall celebrate its fall! Henceforth, to never reappear.”
But few among them knew their plight, Just one remained keenly aware. St. Padraig, clothed in lilywhite And gauntlets shimmering samite His sword and shield gleaming bright Possessed of fearsome icy stare (A basilisk would fear his glare!) , He knew too well The Monster’s might.
Still others brave and bold arrived Like Phil, Vijay, J.B. and Boo For Wanamaker’s cup they’d strive And willingly they’d risk their lives And terrify forsaken wives That stayed behind, unable to Affect the fray and ballyhoo, Imploring them, “Return alive.”
Ben Curtis pledged he would proceed To liberate our haunted glen. No silver cup does Curtis need, His honest spirit knows no greed, Fair Candace spurs each noble deed. An altruistic gentleman And valiant, kind heart: that’s our Ben. He’ll die with honor or succeed.
Garcia - brazen -stood up then, His armor deepest sable black. “I shall succeed, where Phil or Ben or Padraig would all fail again. I ain’t no stinkin’ T.C. Chen! The Monster will not see my back, I’m longing to face its attack And be a titan among men.”
That night a haunted blood-red moon A burning crescent in the sky Illuminated dale and dune In horrifying crimson hue Portending death for me and you. “This omen is an evil sign! The Monster comes! Its time is nigh,” They fretted. “He will be here soon.”
And then a thunderous, fatal knell Roared out and rent the darkened sky. A shadow grew, and midnight fell, And from the blackest pit of Hell The Monster flew into the dell. “No enemy escapes my eye Each puny mortal fool shall die! My darkness no one can dispel!”
The tramp of doom, its massive stride,
Its wings a mighty hurricane,
Its tail smote the mountainside,
The trees fell flat, the rivers dried
And craven-hearted dotards cried
"It's Bobby Jones and Crenshaw's Bane!
Flee him! Your courage is in vain.”
The cowards shouted, terrified.
So many brave were felled that day, Like Vijay, Boo, J.B. and Phil The Monster’s malice did hold sway, And even sunshine he dismayed. We saw no single golden ray, In glade, in valley, or on hill. But though The Monster ate its fill, Brave deeds my hand can still portray
Amidst the tumult, Ben arose, Undaunted by the creature’s ire. His cry “For Candace!” boldly rose, “This tyranny we shall depose.” And Sergio joined in, raining blows. But then The Monster’s threat most dire, Incinerating dragon-fire, Encircled and engulfed its foes.
And by those flames stoked deep in Hell Both heroes’ courage was laid low. The beast unleashed a victory yell Which raged and rumbled through the dell. All cowered at the deathly knell. But then – Behold! – a light did glow. And through the gloom, began to grow St. Padraig dared to break the spell.
His shield thrust aside the flame. He feared no fire, doom, or dread. Its sword-like teeth he overcame And at its wicked, black heart aimed His blade. “For Ireland!” he exclaimed and smote the foul beast’s vile head. The Monster, bloodied, turned and fled. And thus was Oakland Hills reclaimed.
From frozen north to warm southland Rejoicing voices sing out now. “St. Padraig, Vorpal sword in hand, No Jabberwocky could withstand! He brought us peace throughout the land.” So on St. Padraig’s noble brow Three Silmarils they did endow And Starlight rings to grace his hand.
St. Padraig then did speak in turn These humble words he did allow: “If once again its breath should burn, The Monster’s specter you discern Or fear or darkness your hearts learn, If that foul creature rise somehow I pledge to you my solemn vow: Just call for me, I shall return.”
Seve Ballesteros, the most flamboyant golfer of his generation, told the world that he has a brain tumor and is ready to fight the most difficult period of his life.
There is no sadder news in life than when a hero is stricken with some hideous disease at such a young age. The news of Seve Ballesteros suffering from a brain tumor at the age of 51 is one of those. Ballesteros is the most flamboyant player of his generation, in a way he put golf on the map in Europe as much as Arnold Palmer did for golf in the 60s.
No golfer in Europe is more beloved than Seve Ballesteros
Ballesteros first played golf on the European Tour in 1974, he was a 17-year-old boy playing in his national championship. He shot 83-76. The following year he came to Carnoustie for the British Open and played in on the British Islands for the first time, shooting 79-80. The following year at Birkdale as a 19-year-old, Ballesteros made a name for himself as he almost won the British Open, leading after the first, second and third rounds only to succumb to the inexperience of the moment. I remember watching Ballesteros on the range before the third round with Byron Nelson, who was doing the telecast for ABC. Nelson was in awe over the way Ballesteros went at each shot but as he said when watching him on the putting green, "look at the fire in his eyes."
The impressive thing about Ballesteros was the way he attacked golf courses. As one English writer said before the final round of the 1976 British Open, "Ballesteros is a swash-bucking Buccaneer that reminds us of Errol Flynn from Robin Hood movies." Ballesteros was never afraid of a golf shot and he was more deadly if his missed a shot. Just like Arnold Palmer, Ballesteros had the knack of being able to make birdies from anywhere. Three years later, the 22-year-old created the mystical legend when he won the 1979 British Open. He did it in part thanks to a lot of saves and scrambling in the final round, be best was when he drove into a parking lot off the 16th fairway, getting a lift and drop away from Peter Alliss Rolls Royce, then lofting shot onto the green and made the birdie putt. He went on to win by three shots over Jack Nicklaus and Ben Crenshaw.
Ballesteros won his first of five major championship at the 1979 British Openpen at the age of 22.
Just like with Palmer, Ballesteros came into his own at the perfect time for golf. In 1958 golf was looking for a hero to replace Byron Nelson, Sam Snead and Ben Hogan. Palmer fit the shoes perfectly with his Masters win that year and went on to become the most charismatic golfer of all time. In a way Ballesteros did the same thing over in Europe, where golf was just breaking in. The British PGA was looking for new horizons outside of Great Britain with the advent of the good play of Tony Jacklin. When he won the British Open in 1969 and the U.S. Open in 1970, it sparked a lot of interest to branch out the game to other countries in Europe. Ten years later Ballesteros added the integrity and credentials to turn the spark into a blazing inferno. With his charm, charisma, sex appeal and winning ways he put the European Tour on the golfing map. Ballesteros also helped carry the cause of having Europeans included into the Ryder Cup and was the driving force that propelled those matches to be what they are today.
Everyone talks about how unapproachable Ballesteros was back then, he was a lot like Tiger Woods is today. He didn't grant many press interviews, mainly because in the 80s his English wasn't that great. I remember a time in 1980 when ABC Sports decided to do an up-close and personal with Seve. No matter were you lived in the world or who you were when ABC wanted to do this they got full cooperate from the subject. That is everyone except for Seve, he politely took a pass. I remember the shock from the suits at ABC that someone would say no, but they decided to send a film crew over to Spain anyway to see if one showed up on his doorstep that Seve would change his mind. I remember Ben Havey was sent over and he was even shocked when Seve said no so Harvey shot Ballesteros anyway, hiding and shooting from the trees. Everyplace Ballesteros went, Harvey and crew followed him kind of like the paparazzi's do for celebrities today. If Seve was walking in town, Harvey had the camera going on his. If Seve was tending his garden at home, a camera recorded it. Harvey even went to the trouble of finding a little kid and taking him down to the beach in which Ballesteros learned the game and shot that kid eating balls on the beach and portraying Seve. They came back to New York and put the film together and made their up-close, even though it was probably the first one that didn't have a single word from subject. Four years later, I remember when I was producing "Inside the PGA Tour" and I went up to Ballesteros for an interview at the L.A. Open and he turned me down. A couple of months later when at the Masters I again went up to Seve to get an interview of him as the defending champion, this time I had my crew behind me and Seve still said no again. But from the back, my production assistant Melissa said in Spanish "Anda, nos dice cómo usted ganó a los Maestros" which in English was "come on tell us how you won the Masters". Seve looked at me and with a smile said how he couldn't turn down such a pretty lady. If I remember correctly Melissa got a great dinner that night from Seve, who remembered me over the years and since has always been chatty with me.
Two Ryder Cup captains, Nick Faldo and Seve Ballesteros talk about things.
One of the greatest things about Seve was the fact that he didn't come from the Country Club set. Ballesteros came from meager background, he was the youngest son of a farmer. Ballesteros grew up in the tiny Spanish town of Pedrena. He took up the game at the age of seven when his brother Manuel made him a club from the head of an old three-iron. Even though he was forbidden to play at the Real Club de golf de Pedrena, the course next to his home, he taught himself to play the game with that single club on the beach along the Bay of Santander. To this day Ballesteros credits his fabled shotmaking abilities to those times on the beach. He caddied as he grew older, sneaking onto the empty golf course at dawn. His three older brothers, Baldomero, Manuel and Vicente all went on to become golf professionals.
Even though he got a lot of attention for winning the 1979 British Open, his victory at the 1980 Masters was probably the greatest. That is because he was an inspiration to his fellow European golfers, who realized that they could compete and win in America. With his win it opened up the floodgates for European players like Sandy Lyle, Nick Faldo, Ian Woosnam, Bernhard Langer and Jose Maria Olazabal to win the Masters. Ballesteros also played on eight Ryder Cup teams, won the order of merit title six times, chalked up 48 wins in Europe and 87 world wide. But more importantly he was the one that put European and British golf in the news.
Ballesteros played in the 2006 British Open and had his son Baldomero caddy for him.
Since his last win in the Spanish Open in 1995, Ballesteros game hasn't been the same. He had back problems and motivational concerns plus he had run-ins with other players and scrapes with officials of the European Tour. In the last ten years he has only played in a handful of tournaments, the one that caught our fancy was in 2006 when he son Baldomero caddy for him at the British Open. Ballesteros did not make the cut but he didn't embarrass himself with scores of 74-77 but it gave us a glimmer of hope for him in Senior Golf. Unfortunely that wasn't to me, he played in the 2007 Regions Charity Classic and shot 78-81-73 which is the last time he has competitively played. At the time we really didn't realize the problems that he was having. In 2004 his marriage to Carmen Botin ended in divorce and disgrace. The daughter of the man that ran the biggest bank in Spain, Seve became an outcast in social circles in Spain. Added to his troubles in 2007 his girlfriend, Fatima Garlaza, was killed in a car crash. Many have said that Ballesteros just wasn't the same after that and had to refute stories that he had tried to commit suicide with an overdose of pills. He was admitted to hospital with a heart problem. Tests later revealed that he had an irregular heartbeat.
Back troubles plagued Ballesteros and his game a couple of weeks after coming out of the hospital. In July of 2007 he announced his retirement from competition at Carnoustie, the same site of his first British Open in 1975. The general public hasn't seen much of Ballesteros since, he didn't make the trip to Augusta last April or to the British Open last July.
We can only hope that tests, to be performed this week, show the tumor not to be malignant and that Ballesteros doesn't have to suffer the same faith as Ted Kennedy, who we found out last May has a malignant glioma.
Ballesteros asked on his website for his privacy to be respected, but said: "I want to thank from the very bottom of my heart all those people interested in my state of health with many different types of support."
The response of this heartbreaking story is getting a lot of interest so for the next couple of weeks, we are going to add a special "Seve" section to Golf Notebook. so that everyone can keep up to date on Seve's condition. Unfortunately there are a lot of stories that aren't very accurate and jump to conclusion which aren't in the interest of what Seve and his family want so we will not post them. We personally hope that all of this will work out.
Below is some of the best and most accurate stories on this:
Despite not being able to play at the same level as he did in the 70s, 80s and early 90s, Seve Ballesteros loves to captain teams like the Seve Trophy and help youngsters
Below is some of the quotes that have come from players and officials in these newspaper reports:
Speaking on behalf of the European Tour, chairman Neil Coles said: "Everyone connected with the European Tour will be shocked to hear this news. We are confident that Seve will conquer this challenge with the same determination he has brought to all previous challenges."
On hearing the news, Ballesteros' compatriots Jose Maria Olazabal and Miguel Angel Jimenez were quick to offer him their best wishes for a speedy recovery.
Olazabal, who visited Ballesteros, 51, in hospital, said he was "confident" he would recover, adding: "While I'm rightly worried, I thought Seve seemed very well. We were talking for a good while. I wish him a speedy recovery."
Jimenez added: "Seve, we love you. We all hope you recover as soon as possible and we're waiting for you."
Former European Ryder Cup captain, and contemporary of Ballesteros, Sam Torrence said: "Well it's tragic news obviously, he's one of the best-ever players. There's not much more I can say.
"I have many fond memories of playing with him and against him. I was on tour before he started and I was on tour after he finished, so I was a witness to his glorious career. I hope he gets better."
Clearly shaken by the news, Lee Westwood said it was one of the saddest things he had heard in his career. Westwood, who played in his first Ryder Cup with Ballesteros as his captain, said: "Seve was such a great hero of mine.
"I never played with a more charismatic golfer, but he was not just extraordinary in the golfing sense. If you went into a room, you knew he was there even if you couldn't see or hear him. That's how 'big' he was in his hey-day and even now."
And speaking to BBC radio, European Tour Spanish press officer Maria Acacia labelled Ballesteros one of the most influential golfers of all time. Bringing up the profile of golf, not just in Spain but throughout Europe, Acacia said: "He changed the Ryder Cup - I think the Ryder Cup owes a lot of what it is now to Seve."
Photo: © Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images
