Malaysian clean sweep in Brisbane

FOR the first time since the debut of the MercedesTrophy golf tournament, Malaysians made a clean sweep in all the categories, in addition to claiming the Nation Cup.

In the showdown staged in Brisbane, Australia, the Malaysian team topped the leaderboard with 244 Stableford points, and left Thailand (231 points) and Taiwan (229) to settle for second and third place, respectively.

Seven Malaysians qualified for the Nation Cup in this year’s MercedesTrophy Asian Final. And later this month, 23 teams from 32 nations will be battle it out at the World Final in Stuttgart, Germany.

The players who qualify for the World Final are those who win the tournaments in their national or regional finals. And with their recent proud victory, the Malaysian team has confidently secured a place in Stuttgart.

Five top Asian Tour players get Australian Open invite

SINGAPORE: Five of the Asian Tour’s top players will receive invites to the Australian Open for the first time this year, reflecting the growing stature of golf in the region.

The leading five available golfers from the top-25 on the Asian Order of Merit as of Nov 5 will earn their tickets Down Under for the tournament at the Australian Golf Club in Sydney from Dec 13-16.

“This is the first time that the Asian Tour has been accorded with such an invitation from Golf Australia and I believe this is a wonderful recognition of our rising stature in the world of golf,” said Asian Tour chief Kyi Hla Han.

“We are confident our five players will represent the Asian Tour well in Australia’s most prestigious golf championship.”

John Senden won the US$1.1mil event last year, ahead of Geoff Ogilvy, Stuart Appleby, and Adam Scott. – AFP

Veteren Lian-wei feels right at home at China Classic

Guangzhou - Chinese stalwart Zhang Lian-wei is feeling right at home at the Midea China Classic satrting today after adding his touch to the course earlier this year.
Lian-wei will be walking on familiar ground having renovated the Nick Faldo 18-hole course at the Royal Orchid International Golf Club.
The Chinese star will be flanked by an elite Asian field that includes compatriot Liang Wen-chong, Taiwan's Lin Wen-tang, big-hitting australian Scott Hend, and Thai heroes Thaworn Wiratchant and Chapcai Nirat.
The 42-years-old Lian-wei has no kept secret about the par-71 course as he believes that steady iron play coupled with solid putting will ensure a low round.
"The fairways here are wide and will provide ample room for a good approach shot. With accurate approach shots and steady putting, a low score is easy to come by," he said.
"We have added more bunkers and water hazards. The rough is not too long so the course is easy for long hitters such as Scott (Scott Hend ), but the bunkers will be waiting for him."
After having endured his first miss cut of the season in Brunei two weeks ago, Wen-chong will be inspired to make amends in the US$4000,000 event.
He has been on a hot streak before Brunei, chalking up a win in Singapore and seven other top-10 finishes.
"I took a short break after Brunei to recover from a slight injury but now I'm ready for the challenges," he said.
"I am glad to be coming into this event as th UBS Order of Merit leader but I think it will be really tight with the top players gathered here this week."
He also finished second at the Royal Orchid course here at a domestic event last year. - AFP

Tiger Woods

Born: December 30, 1975
Residence: Orlando, Fla.
Wife: Elin (10/5/2004)
Children: Sam Alexis (6/18/2007)
Parents: Earl and Kultida
High School: Western HS (Anaheim, Calif.)
College: Stanford University (Palo Alto, Calif.)
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 185 pounds


BIOGRAPHY

Record breaking pro golfer Eldrick 'Tiger' Woods was born on the 30th of December, 1975, the only child to parents Earl, retired lieutenant, and Kultida, of Thai descent. Earl Woods gave his son Eldrick the nickname 'Tiger', after a soldier and friend of his father who was also nicknamed Tiger in his days as a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army. Tiger grew up in Cypress, California, where his future passion and talent was foreshadowed while he was only a baby. Tiger would watch his father hit golf balls and would mimic his father's swing while still in his crib. Even before becoming a graduate from Western High School in Anaheim, California, Tiger was appearing on television and winning golf tournaments. At the mere age of 2, Tiger played with comedian and golfer Bob Hope on a national televisor, the Mike Douglas Show. He was featured in Golf Digest at age 5, after having already succeeded in shooting 48 for nine holes while the same children his age were still playing with building blocks.

A six-time winner at the Optimist International Junior Tournament, Tiger won at the ages of 8 and 9, and consecutively from ages 12 to 15. While a student at Stanford University, Tiger won 10 collegiate events and held the NCAA title. Before his years at Stanford, Tiger had already played in a professional tournament when he was 16 years old, the Nissan Los Angeles Open in 1992. One year later, he participated in three PGA Tour events and in 1994, Tiger placed 34th in the 1994 Johnnie Walker Asian Classic in Thailand and appeared in three more PGA Tours that same year. After having won the 1994 Western Amateur and representing the United States in the 1994 World Amateur Team Championships in France and the 1995 Walker Cup Match in Wales, Tiger was ready for his first major championships in 1995 -- the Masters and The British Open. Tiger couldn't play in the US Open that year because he injured his wrist.

Even as an amateur in 1995 and 1996, Tiger was making and breaking records and it was for this reason (among many others) that he was named Sports Illustrated's 1996 Sportsman of the Year. In 1997, Tiger won the first Mercedes Championships of the season, the Masters and four PGA events. Tiger became the leading money winner, winning $2,440,831. Among the records Tiger has broken are:

* In 1997, the youngest ever No.1 golfer at age 21, 24 weeks.
* In 1999 alone, Tiger won 81.7 percent more than the runner up during the PGA Tour.
* In 1999, he had as many as 8 victories in one year.
* In 1999, he achieved the highest point average (20.61) in the history of the World Ranking.
* In 1999, earned a record setting 750 points.
* In 1999, achieved the lowest ever adjusted scoring average of 68.43 strokes.

Woods and Mickelson

Woods and Mickelson will play together Thursday and Friday at the Tour Championship.

September

Sep 6-9

BMW Championship
Cog Hill G&CC
Lemont, Illinois

Sep 13-16

THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola
East Lake GC
Atlanta, Georgia

August

Aug 2-5

World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational
Firestone CC (South Course)
Akron, Ohio

Aug 2-5

Reno-Tahoe Open
Montreux G&CC
Reno, Nevada

Aug 9-12

PGA Championship
Southern Hills CC
Tulsa, Oklahoma

Aug 16-19

Wyndham Championship
Forest Oaks CC
Greensboro, North Carolina

Aug 23-26

Barclays Classic
Westchester CC
Rye, New York

Aug 31-Sep 3

Deutsche Bank Championship
TPC Boston
Norton, Massachusetts

July

Jul 5-8

AT&T National
Congressional C.C.
Bethesda, MD

Jul 12-15

John Deere Classic
TPC Deere Run
Silvis, Illinois

Jul 19-22

The Open Championship
Carnoustie GC
Angus, UK

Jul 19-22

U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee
Brown Deer Park GC
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Jul 26-29

Canadian Open
Angus Glen Country Club
Markham, Ontario, Canada

June

Jun 7-10

Stanford St. Jude Championship
TPC Southwind
Memphis, Tennessee

Jun 14-17

U.S. Open
Oakmont CC
Oakmont, Pennsylvania

Jun 21-24

Travelers Championship
TPC River Highlands
Cromwell, Connecticut

Jun 28-Jul 1

Buick Open
Warwick Hills G&CC
Grand Blanc, Michigan

May

May 3-6

Wachovia Championship
Quail Hollow CC
Charlotte, North Carolina

May 10-13

THE PLAYERS Championship
TPC Sawgrass
Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida

May 17-20

AT&T Classic
TPC Sugarloaf
Duluth, Georgia

May 24-27

Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial
Colonial CC
Ft. Worth, Texas

May 31-Jun 3

the Memorial Tournament Presented by Morgan Stanley
Muirfield Village GC
Dublin, Ohio

April

Apr 5-8

The Masters
Augusta National GC
Augusta, Georgia

Apr 12-15

Verizon Heritage
Harbour Town Golf Links
Hilton Head, South Carolina

Apr 19-22

Zurich Classic of New Orleans
TPC Louisiana
Avondale, Louisiana

Apr 26-29

EDS Byron Nelson Championship
TPC Four Seasons Resort
Irving, Texas

March

Mar 1-4

The Honda Classic
PGA National gc (Champion Course)
Palm Beach Gardens, Florida

Mar 8-11

PODS Championship
Westin Innisbrook -Copperhead
Palm Harbor, Florida

Mar 15-18

Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard
Bay Hill Club & Lodge
Orlando, Florida

Mar 22-25

WGC-CA Championship
Doral Golf Resort & Spa
Miami, Florida

Mar 29-Apr 1

Shell Houston Open
Redstone GC (Tournament Course)
Humble, Texas

February

Feb 1-4

FBR Open
TPC Scottsdale
Scottsdale, Arizona

Feb 8-11

AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am
Pebble Beach Golf Links
Pebble Beach, California

Feb 15-18

Nissan Open
Riviera CC
Pacific Palisades, California

Feb 21-25

WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship
The Gallery Golf Club at Dove Mountain
Tucson, Ariz.

Feb 22-25

Mayakoba Classic at Riviera Maya
El Camaleon
Riviera Maya, Mexico

January

Jan 4-7

Mercedes-Benz Championship
Kapalua Resort, The Plantation Course
Kapalua, Hawaii

Jan 11-14

Sony Open in Hawaii
Waialae Country Club
Honolulu, Hawaii

Jan 17-21

Bob Hope Chrysler Classic
The Classic Club
Palm Desert, California

Jan 25-28

Buick Invitational
Torrey Pines (South Course)
San Diego, California

Golf Tips 5-6

05 HOW TO PLAY OUT OF A DIVOT
BY SHELBY FUTCH

When hitting out of a divot, the worst thing you can do is scoop the ball--the clubhead getting ahead of the hands at impact. But that's exactly what the lie makes most golfers do. Scooping exposes the leading edge and leads to skulls or drop-kicks. What you need is a descending blow, and there are two ways to get it: (1) Play the ball back slightly in your stance, and lean left, which sets up a steeper swing plane and a downward hit. With this method, the ball will come out lower, so allow for some chase when it lands. (2) This technique is tougher to execute, but allows you to hit the ball higher and stop it faster: Take one extra club, play the ball farther forward than you normally do and open your stance and the clubface slightly. Swing across the ball from out to in, like you would for a bunker shot. You'll hit it high and stop it on the green.

06 HOW TO DEVELOP YOUR GOLF MUSCLES
BY RANDY MYERS

The latest studies indicate that golfers need to focus on three areas: flexibility, balance and symmetry. Before a round, you should concentrate on flexibility--stretching the entire back and shoulders and the rotary muscles of the hips, torso and rotator cuffs. After a round or on days when you aren't playing, focus on strength- and balance-training. Things like mimicking the golf swing with a weighted club or using resistance bands to improve range of motion are great, but they have to be performed in both directions to improve the body's symmetry. For a right-handed golfer, that means swinging the weighted club as a lefty would. Otherwise, a right-handed golfer would have a strong right side and a flexible left side. Sooner or later, injuries will develop from this asymmetry.

Performing exercises while standing on one leg instead of two (don't forget to switch legs between sets) will help improve balance. So will assuming a golf-swing posture as you go through your routine. The final element to improving your golf muscles is to do cardiovascular exercises such as running, swimming, etc. They will strengthen your legs and improve your stamina, making it much easier to perform the golf swing as you get tired.