Tomorrow is the start of the 2014 WGC Bridgestone Invitational at the South Course at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio. This is the third out of four World Golf Championship (WGC) events played during the season. WGC events are really unique and elite tournaments for a few reasons. They typically give out more prize money than majors, offer a lot of World Golf Rankings points, and feature a lower number of players in the field.
As for the Bridgestone Invitational in order to be "invited" a player must have done one of the the following. i) play on the previous Ryder Cup or Presidents Cup team (whichever was more recent). ii) Rank in the top 50 in the World Golf Rankings. iii) Be a winner of one select tournament on other tours (Japan Tour, Sunshine Tour, etc.). The tournament's purse is also $9 million.
Firestone Country Club is also one of the tougher courses that players will play during the golf season and usually ranks within the top 5 courses of average shots over par. It's also a long course; 7400 yards and only a par 70. However this has not seemed to deter Tiger Woods over the years, who has won this tournament eight times, his last win coming just last year. He's no doubt a favourite going into the tournament.
Finally here are our favourites for the winner this week:
1) Graeme McDowell: He's played really well in the past two weeks and in the previous two WGC events, including a T10 last week. We're always picking him when he plays.
2) Miguel Angel Jimenez: He may be the oldest player in the field this week, but he did tie for 4th place last year. He also has to do well this week to hopefully ensure a Ryder Cup spot.
3) Adam Scott: A T5 at the Open Championship among others means that his game is in a good spot at the moment. He also knows what it takes to win this tournament, having won it in 2011.
Stay tuned Friday for our Weekend Update of the 2014 Bridgestone Invitational,
-Nick
Toronto Golf Reviews
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
Monday, July 28, 2014
Nike Distance SFT Golf Ball Review
Price: 2-dozen for ~$30 in most stores
Features: Softer compression for added distance and feel, high-coverage dimple design for long/wind penetrating ball flight, durable outer layer that maintains short game control.
Value: 
Build/Quality:
Effectiveness:
Features:
Overall Rating: 4.4 out of 5
I had heard some talk about Nike Distance balls before, but have always been a bit skeptical about them. After a recent trip to my local golf store (Golf Town in this case), I decided to pick up a 24-pack, which cost under $30, just to see what they were about. Nike claims that this ball has been "regenerated to deliver long, straight distance off the driver while maintaining greenside feel and control" and, as a person who doesn't drive the ball as far as he liked to, this seemed like a good deal. I immediately put them into rigorous use having used them for about 5 rounds straight, in a variety of conditions, all with the intent of putting them through a good thorough test.
First let's talk about some of the features of the ball. It's core is softer that previous balls, which results in "explosive" long drives. It's dimples seem to cover more of the ball's surface which Nike also claims aids in long, wind penetrating ball flight. Already you get the feel that this is a ball designed for distance, and solely distance, but to balance things out, Nike has also made the surface of the ball out of a ionomer compound that they claim makes the ball durable, yet good in short game situations.
From my test of the ball so far, I can tell you that this ball lives up to what it says. With my irons I averaged about 5-10 yards longer that what I would normally hit, but my shots were a lot straighter and went where I was aiming. If I was aiming slightly to the left, the ball would go there, if I was completely off with my alignment, the ball's path would reflect that. That's either a good thing or a bad thing, depending on who you ask, but it might not be the most forgiving for the higher handicapper.
This ball however proves itself when you hit it with a driver, wood, or hybrid. When you hit it, it goes far and straight...really far and straight; there's no other way to put it. I seen maybe on average 10-15 yards gained using those clubs, and even as much as 25 yards when struck well with the driver. The ball really does have an "explosive" feel to it and makes you want to reach further back in your backswing and see just how far you can hit it. And the best part is the ball will go even farther who you do just that. The ball also seems to hang in the air just that second more.
Around the greens, the ball is okay, but good considering that it seems like a distance-only ball. Short iron and wedge shots did have a little less spin than other balls I've played, but that's okay considering what the trade-off is. Puttingwise, I did notice that the ball seemed to come off the putter face a little faster than other balls (especially on long putts), maybe due to the softer compression core.
Overall, this ball surprised me, especially in terms of distance and straightness with the driver. Take this ball out on those really long par 4's or 5's and you'll see for yourself just how far you can hit it. It really lives up to everything it says it can do. And, considering the distance it gives you, it's feel around the greens in good. It's price is also a steal too, I think. This is a ball that's probably not the best for higher-handicappers, as mentioned above with the irons and all, but perfect for anyone who wants a little more distance and that "explosive" feel on their drives and long shots.
First let's talk about some of the features of the ball. It's core is softer that previous balls, which results in "explosive" long drives. It's dimples seem to cover more of the ball's surface which Nike also claims aids in long, wind penetrating ball flight. Already you get the feel that this is a ball designed for distance, and solely distance, but to balance things out, Nike has also made the surface of the ball out of a ionomer compound that they claim makes the ball durable, yet good in short game situations.
From my test of the ball so far, I can tell you that this ball lives up to what it says. With my irons I averaged about 5-10 yards longer that what I would normally hit, but my shots were a lot straighter and went where I was aiming. If I was aiming slightly to the left, the ball would go there, if I was completely off with my alignment, the ball's path would reflect that. That's either a good thing or a bad thing, depending on who you ask, but it might not be the most forgiving for the higher handicapper.
This ball however proves itself when you hit it with a driver, wood, or hybrid. When you hit it, it goes far and straight...really far and straight; there's no other way to put it. I seen maybe on average 10-15 yards gained using those clubs, and even as much as 25 yards when struck well with the driver. The ball really does have an "explosive" feel to it and makes you want to reach further back in your backswing and see just how far you can hit it. And the best part is the ball will go even farther who you do just that. The ball also seems to hang in the air just that second more.
Around the greens, the ball is okay, but good considering that it seems like a distance-only ball. Short iron and wedge shots did have a little less spin than other balls I've played, but that's okay considering what the trade-off is. Puttingwise, I did notice that the ball seemed to come off the putter face a little faster than other balls (especially on long putts), maybe due to the softer compression core.
Overall, this ball surprised me, especially in terms of distance and straightness with the driver. Take this ball out on those really long par 4's or 5's and you'll see for yourself just how far you can hit it. It really lives up to everything it says it can do. And, considering the distance it gives you, it's feel around the greens in good. It's price is also a steal too, I think. This is a ball that's probably not the best for higher-handicappers, as mentioned above with the irons and all, but perfect for anyone who wants a little more distance and that "explosive" feel on their drives and long shots.
Feel free to leave a comment if you've played this ball and share your experience with it,
-Nick
Toronto Golf Reviews
Sunday, July 27, 2014
2014 Canadian Open Results
The final round of the 2014 RBC Canadian Open has just concluded and this year's winner in South African Tim Clark. Clark shot a final 65, which was good enough for a one shot victory over American Jim Furyk, who held the lead for most of the tournament. He finished the tournament at 17-under (-17) in this his second PGA tour win, and first win since winning the 2010 Players Championship. For Furyk however, this marks the seventh tournament he has lost after leading going into the final round.
Saturday's round was suspended slightly towards the end due to inclement weather, but this seemed to have been a positive for today's rounds, as it brought some of the lowest scores of the tournament; the low round of the day being a 63, shot by American Dicky Pride.
Several Canadians also did very well in "their Open", such as Graham DeLaet who finished at T7 (10-under) and Brad Fritsch who finished T9 (9-under). As for our picks, here is how they finished:
1) Graeme McDowell: T9 at 9-under (-9)
2) Charl Schwartzel: T43 at 3-under (-3)
Mike Weir: T66 at 2-over (+2)
That's another good finish for McDowell, let's hope Mike Weir will have a better outcome in his next tournament.
Stay tuned for more PGA Tour/European Tour coverage,
-Nick
Toronto Golf Reviews
Saturday's round was suspended slightly towards the end due to inclement weather, but this seemed to have been a positive for today's rounds, as it brought some of the lowest scores of the tournament; the low round of the day being a 63, shot by American Dicky Pride.
Several Canadians also did very well in "their Open", such as Graham DeLaet who finished at T7 (10-under) and Brad Fritsch who finished T9 (9-under). As for our picks, here is how they finished:
1) Graeme McDowell: T9 at 9-under (-9)
2) Charl Schwartzel: T43 at 3-under (-3)
Mike Weir: T66 at 2-over (+2)
That's another good finish for McDowell, let's hope Mike Weir will have a better outcome in his next tournament.
Stay tuned for more PGA Tour/European Tour coverage,
-Nick
Toronto Golf Reviews
Tim Clark wins the 2014 RBC Canadian Open (Paul Chiasson / THE CANADIAN PRESS)
Friday, July 25, 2014
2014 Canadian Open Predicitons - Weekend Update
And just like that, the weekday rounds of the 2014 RBC Canadian Open have concluded at Royal Montreal Golf Club in Montreal, Canada. The co-leaders going into the weekend are Americans Jim Furyk and Tim Petrovic, who are both at 10-under (-10). Both have a two shot lead over Canadian Graham DeLaet and others. The cut has also been set at even par for the week.
Conditions were no doubt optimal for scoring, especially during the today's round, where the low round of the day was a 63, incidentally shot by both Furyk and DeLaet.
According to many golf experts and analysts, if a Canadian were to win their Open, the odds are that it would be Graham DeLaet, who is without question the top Canadian in mens professional golf at the moment, being ranked 38th in the World Golf Rankings. As we've seen in the past two days, he sure does have the skills and game needed to win.
RBC apart from being the title sponsor of the Canadian Open also sponsor a number of players on the PGA, such as Matt Kuchar, Graeme McDowell, Jim Furyk, Ernie Ells, etc. A good number of these players are doing pretty well in the tournament, such as Jim Furyk and Graeme McDowell.
As for our picks, here is how they are doing:
1) Graeme McDowell: T5 at 7-under (-7)
2) Aaron Baddeley: CUT
3) Charl Schwartzel: T37 at 2-under (-2)
Mike Weir: T63 at even par (E)
Graeme McDowell has been doing pretty well, shooting a 68 65, which included a chip-in eagle during his first round. We're hoping he can hold onto this good position and hopefully win! If Graeme can't do it, the hopefully the other Graham can win, of course Graham DeLaet. A Canadian winning the Canadian Open would be something special.
Simply put, the first two rounds of the Canadian Open have been nothing short of exciting. Stay tuned to see who will win the tournament come Sunday evening.
-Nick
Toronto Golf Reviews
Conditions were no doubt optimal for scoring, especially during the today's round, where the low round of the day was a 63, incidentally shot by both Furyk and DeLaet.
According to many golf experts and analysts, if a Canadian were to win their Open, the odds are that it would be Graham DeLaet, who is without question the top Canadian in mens professional golf at the moment, being ranked 38th in the World Golf Rankings. As we've seen in the past two days, he sure does have the skills and game needed to win.
RBC apart from being the title sponsor of the Canadian Open also sponsor a number of players on the PGA, such as Matt Kuchar, Graeme McDowell, Jim Furyk, Ernie Ells, etc. A good number of these players are doing pretty well in the tournament, such as Jim Furyk and Graeme McDowell.
As for our picks, here is how they are doing:
1) Graeme McDowell: T5 at 7-under (-7)
2) Aaron Baddeley: CUT
3) Charl Schwartzel: T37 at 2-under (-2)
Mike Weir: T63 at even par (E)
Graeme McDowell has been doing pretty well, shooting a 68 65, which included a chip-in eagle during his first round. We're hoping he can hold onto this good position and hopefully win! If Graeme can't do it, the hopefully the other Graham can win, of course Graham DeLaet. A Canadian winning the Canadian Open would be something special.
Simply put, the first two rounds of the Canadian Open have been nothing short of exciting. Stay tuned to see who will win the tournament come Sunday evening.
-Nick
Toronto Golf Reviews
Can Graham DeLaet pull off a win on home soil? (Paul Chiasson / The Canadian Press)
Thursday, July 24, 2014
2014 Canadian Open Predictions
The 2014 RBC Canadian Open has just begun at the historic Royal Montreal Golf Club in Montreal, Canada. This is one of the few times that the PGA comes up north to play a professional tournament and it is a tournament written into the history books almost as much as any other Open. For example, Royal Montreal Golf Club is the oldest golf course in North America and the first course to host the Canadian Open, in 1904. Many of golf's greats, both past and present, have at some point or another been involved in the Canadian Open. Then amateur Bobby Jones, at just the age of 17, tied for second place here in 1919. And of course, the great Arnold Palmer, having won the Canadian Open in 1955 in that his first PGA tour victory.
The Canadian Open has always attracted some of golf's elites, however more and more higher ranked players have began to play it recently, such as the Graeme McDowell's, the Luke Donald's, etc, perhaps due to RBC taking over as the title sponsor in recent years. It is of course also played by many Canadians, as it is "their Open", including out favourite Canadian golfer Mike Weir. Incidentally, Weir will be paired with Graeme McDowell and Luke Donald for their first two rounds.
With that in mind, here are our picks for this week,
1) Graeme McDowell: Of course! He played solid golf last week at the Open Championship
2) Aaron Baddeley: He's been a little quiet this year, but who knows that can happen this week?
3) Charl Schwartzel: He also played well at the Open Championship last week.
We'll also be watching Mike Weir as well.
Stay tuned Friday evening to see how the tournament's played going into the weekend,
-Nick
Toronto Golf Reviews
The Canadian Open has always attracted some of golf's elites, however more and more higher ranked players have began to play it recently, such as the Graeme McDowell's, the Luke Donald's, etc, perhaps due to RBC taking over as the title sponsor in recent years. It is of course also played by many Canadians, as it is "their Open", including out favourite Canadian golfer Mike Weir. Incidentally, Weir will be paired with Graeme McDowell and Luke Donald for their first two rounds.
With that in mind, here are our picks for this week,
1) Graeme McDowell: Of course! He played solid golf last week at the Open Championship
2) Aaron Baddeley: He's been a little quiet this year, but who knows that can happen this week?
3) Charl Schwartzel: He also played well at the Open Championship last week.
We'll also be watching Mike Weir as well.
Stay tuned Friday evening to see how the tournament's played going into the weekend,
-Nick
Toronto Golf Reviews
Sunday, July 20, 2014
Rory McIlroy Wins the 2014 Open Championship
It may have been clear all the way from Thursday, but Rory McIlroy has won the 143rd Open Championship at Royal Liverpool in Hoylake, UK, his third major since 2011 (2011 US Open, 2012 PGA Championship). With this win, he becomes the Championship Golfer of the Year.
He may have shot a 71 with a few bogeys today, but it was probably the most important 71 of his life, finishing the tournament at 17-under (-17) with a two shot lead over Sergio Garcia and Rickie Fowler. He faltered slightly on the 5th and 6th, going bogey-bogey (bringing his lead to just two shots), but still played an excellent round, as shown on the 18th hole, where he made a critical bunker shot to save par. He played his own game today and I think that's what won it for him.
McIlroy seemed to overcome many obstacles, such as the pressures from holding the lead, and most noted, his "Friday jitters", proving once and for all that he is the world-class golfer that everyone thought he was.
Conditions were helpful over the final round, with many players shooting lower scores, trying to chase McIlroy down. The low round of the day was a 65, shot by Englishman Chris Wood. However, no one could get close enough to McIlroy.
Having won his third major now, McIlroy now looks to win the 2015 Masters, in order to complete the Major Grand Slam.
Congratulations once again Rory and good luck in 2015,
-Nick
Toronto Golf Reviews
He may have shot a 71 with a few bogeys today, but it was probably the most important 71 of his life, finishing the tournament at 17-under (-17) with a two shot lead over Sergio Garcia and Rickie Fowler. He faltered slightly on the 5th and 6th, going bogey-bogey (bringing his lead to just two shots), but still played an excellent round, as shown on the 18th hole, where he made a critical bunker shot to save par. He played his own game today and I think that's what won it for him.
McIlroy seemed to overcome many obstacles, such as the pressures from holding the lead, and most noted, his "Friday jitters", proving once and for all that he is the world-class golfer that everyone thought he was.
Conditions were helpful over the final round, with many players shooting lower scores, trying to chase McIlroy down. The low round of the day was a 65, shot by Englishman Chris Wood. However, no one could get close enough to McIlroy.
Having won his third major now, McIlroy now looks to win the 2015 Masters, in order to complete the Major Grand Slam.
Congratulations once again Rory and good luck in 2015,
-Nick
Toronto Golf Reviews
Rory McIlroy, 2014 Championship Golfer of the Year
Saturday, July 19, 2014
Day 3 at the 2014 Open Championship
Saturday's (or Moving Day) round of the 2014 Open Championship has concluded, and the leader is still Rory McIlroy at 16-under (-16). He shot a 68 today and finished in a spectacular style that included two eagles on the finishing par 5's, all which earned McIlroy a six shot lead over American Rickie Fowler.
McIlroy holds the largest 54 hole lead at an Open Championship since 2000 (by Tiger Woods). With such a drastic lead similar to his one at the 2011 US Open, McIlroy chances of winning are looking very good.
Despite thunderstorm predictions, the weather turned out to be decent. The low round of the day was a 67, shot by fellow Northern Irishman Darren Clarke (Clarke is at T12 at 5-under).
Here is how our picks stand going into the final round:
1) Graeme McDowell: T12 at 5-under (-5)
2) Henrik Stenson: T52 at 2-over (+2)
3) Luke Donald: T45 at 1-over (+1)
McDowell's doing pretty well, having shot a 68 too today. Be sure to check in tomorrow to see who the winner will be,
-Nick
Toronto Golf Reviews
McIlroy holds the largest 54 hole lead at an Open Championship since 2000 (by Tiger Woods). With such a drastic lead similar to his one at the 2011 US Open, McIlroy chances of winning are looking very good.
Despite thunderstorm predictions, the weather turned out to be decent. The low round of the day was a 67, shot by fellow Northern Irishman Darren Clarke (Clarke is at T12 at 5-under).
Here is how our picks stand going into the final round:
1) Graeme McDowell: T12 at 5-under (-5)
2) Henrik Stenson: T52 at 2-over (+2)
3) Luke Donald: T45 at 1-over (+1)
McDowell's doing pretty well, having shot a 68 too today. Be sure to check in tomorrow to see who the winner will be,
-Nick
Toronto Golf Reviews
Is Rory McIlroy's lead enough to win him the 2014 Open Championship? (Peter Muhly/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images)
Friday, July 18, 2014
Day 2 at the 2014 Open Championship
Today's round of the 2014 Open Championship at Royal Liverpool has finished, thus concluding the weekday rounds. The leader going into weekend is still Rory McIlroy, who again shot a 6-under 66 to put him at 12-under (-12) overall, good enough for a four shot lead over American Dustin Johnson. Johnson shot a 65 today (which was the low round of the day) to put him in that spot. The cut has been set at 3-over (+3).
Over the past few months, Rory McIlroy has been having trouble during his Friday rounds. During the Scottish Open, he went from shooting the course record on Thursday, to shooting a 78 the next day. However, this was not the case today for him.
Tiger Woods, however, faltered during his round today, having shot a 77 with most over-par scores coming on the first few holes. He barely made the cut as well, having a combined score of just 2-over (+2).
Factory worker and local resident John Singleton improved on his opening round of 78, having shot a 70 on the day, putting him at 4-over (+4) but just barely missing the cut. I don't think missing the cut matters to him too much however, as the experience was no doubt priceless regardless.
Weatherwise, the wind was blowing at times during today's round, but it looks like some players still managed to score low despite this, perhaps having taken advantage of it on certain holes. This is links golf that is being played however, so who knows what the next rounds will be like.
Finally, here is how our picks fared out:
1) Graeme McDowell: T24 at 1-under (-1)
2) Henrik Stenson: T43 at 1-over (+1)
3) Luke Donald: T56 at 2-over (+2)
4) Miguel Angel Jimenez: CUT
That's too bad for Jimenez; he hasn't missed a cut at the Open Championship since 2008.
Stay tuned for our coverage of tomorrow's round,
-Nick
Toronto Golf Reviews
Over the past few months, Rory McIlroy has been having trouble during his Friday rounds. During the Scottish Open, he went from shooting the course record on Thursday, to shooting a 78 the next day. However, this was not the case today for him.
Tiger Woods, however, faltered during his round today, having shot a 77 with most over-par scores coming on the first few holes. He barely made the cut as well, having a combined score of just 2-over (+2).
Factory worker and local resident John Singleton improved on his opening round of 78, having shot a 70 on the day, putting him at 4-over (+4) but just barely missing the cut. I don't think missing the cut matters to him too much however, as the experience was no doubt priceless regardless.
Weatherwise, the wind was blowing at times during today's round, but it looks like some players still managed to score low despite this, perhaps having taken advantage of it on certain holes. This is links golf that is being played however, so who knows what the next rounds will be like.
Finally, here is how our picks fared out:
1) Graeme McDowell: T24 at 1-under (-1)
2) Henrik Stenson: T43 at 1-over (+1)
3) Luke Donald: T56 at 2-over (+2)
4) Miguel Angel Jimenez: CUT
That's too bad for Jimenez; he hasn't missed a cut at the Open Championship since 2008.
Stay tuned for our coverage of tomorrow's round,
-Nick
Toronto Golf Reviews
Rory McIlroy overcomes his "Friday jitters" to hold onto the lead at the 2014 Open Championship (Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
Thursday, July 17, 2014
Day 1 at the 2014 Open Championship
The opening round of the 2014 Open Championship is now over, ending off a "unique" day with many storylines across the entire course. The overnight leader is none other that Northern Irishman Rory McIlory, who shot a stress-free 6-under 66 in a bogeyless round. He leads by one shot over Italian Matteo Manaserro.
There were many aspects of today that made it "unique". For example, we saw different sides of players (even the best) that we wouldn't normally see in a regular golf tournament. South African and 2012 Open Championship winner Ernie Els shot a 7-over (79) today. His round came undone almost as quickly as it started unfortunately, having hit a spectator, three-putted from a tap-in distance, and tripled bogeyed, all on the first hole.
Our pick Henrik Stenson also generated some hype today. On the 17th hole, Stenson hit his tee shot into rough, and after failing to escape the rough on his second shot, broke his club (a 4-iron) and continued on with the rest of his round.
The weather conditions were also slightly benign today, with no precipitation and very little wind, resulting in the lower scores. This is set to change however, as the week progressed.
Now for notable rounds today. Oddly enough, the top-5 on the leaderboard is dominated by Italians; Matteo Manaserro and Edoardo and Francesco Molinario (the Molinari brothers both shot 68's). Golf legend Tiger Woods shot a 69 and is T10, in his first major round since the end of 2013 and surgery.
Another storyline going around today is that of Englishman John Singleton, a local factory worker who lives near Royal Liverpool and, against the odds, qualified for the Open Championship, despite not playing professionally on any tour. Singleton shot a 6-over 78 today, but hopes to play well enough to earn a sponsorship and play professionally. It's stories like this that can only be found at majors and select tournaments.
Finally, here is how our picks are doing so far:
1) Graeme McDowell: T84 at 2-over (+2)
2) Henrik Stenson: T49 at even par (E)
3) Luke Donald: T66 at 1-over (+1)
4) Miguel Angel Jimenez: T105 at 3-over (+3)
Stay tuned for our coverage and recap of tomorrow's round,
-Nick
Toronto Golf Review
There were many aspects of today that made it "unique". For example, we saw different sides of players (even the best) that we wouldn't normally see in a regular golf tournament. South African and 2012 Open Championship winner Ernie Els shot a 7-over (79) today. His round came undone almost as quickly as it started unfortunately, having hit a spectator, three-putted from a tap-in distance, and tripled bogeyed, all on the first hole.
Our pick Henrik Stenson also generated some hype today. On the 17th hole, Stenson hit his tee shot into rough, and after failing to escape the rough on his second shot, broke his club (a 4-iron) and continued on with the rest of his round.
The weather conditions were also slightly benign today, with no precipitation and very little wind, resulting in the lower scores. This is set to change however, as the week progressed.
Now for notable rounds today. Oddly enough, the top-5 on the leaderboard is dominated by Italians; Matteo Manaserro and Edoardo and Francesco Molinario (the Molinari brothers both shot 68's). Golf legend Tiger Woods shot a 69 and is T10, in his first major round since the end of 2013 and surgery.
Another storyline going around today is that of Englishman John Singleton, a local factory worker who lives near Royal Liverpool and, against the odds, qualified for the Open Championship, despite not playing professionally on any tour. Singleton shot a 6-over 78 today, but hopes to play well enough to earn a sponsorship and play professionally. It's stories like this that can only be found at majors and select tournaments.
Finally, here is how our picks are doing so far:
1) Graeme McDowell: T84 at 2-over (+2)
2) Henrik Stenson: T49 at even par (E)
3) Luke Donald: T66 at 1-over (+1)
4) Miguel Angel Jimenez: T105 at 3-over (+3)
Stay tuned for our coverage and recap of tomorrow's round,
-Nick
Toronto Golf Review
Rory McIlroy during his opening round at the 2014 Open Championship (Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty Images)
Wednesday, July 16, 2014
2014 Open Championship Picks
The 143rd Open Championship (AKA British Open) is set to start at Royal Liverpool Golf Club in less than 24 hours. Given all the hype that this Open Championship has been given in the past few days, it'll be an exciting one to watch this year. Something different that we'll be doing this week is choosing three winner picks, as well as a "dark horse" pick.
Here are our picks for this year's winner:
1) Graeme McDowell: He successfully defended his French Open title just a few weeks ago, so his game is in a good place. He's also a skilled links player, having grown up near and fine-tuning his links skills at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland. He's also one of our favourite golfers to ever play the game.
2) Henrik Stenson: He's probably playing the best golf of his life right now and without a doubt has the skills to win (he finished second place last year at Muirfield). His golf game and results have changed dramatically over the years, and a major win would be the perfect finish for him. He's also a pick amongst many in the golfing world.
3) Luke Donald: He has had good finishes in a few recent Open Championships. He's also one of the more accurate players on both the European and PGA Tour. Accuracy is good for links style golf courses and it may be this factor that will make him win this week.
Dark Horse: Miguel Angel Jimenez: At 50 years old, he's proved that he still has what it takes to golf with the younger generation, with his Spanish Open win earlier this year. His experience in Open Championships will definitely help him this week too (He's finished in the top-15 for 3 out of the last 5 Open Championships). He's also an all-around great player and another one of our favourite golfers.
As win every major, we'll be having daily coverage and recaps of each round of the Open Championships, so stay tuned for those,
-Nick
Toronto Golf Reviews
Here are our picks for this year's winner:
1) Graeme McDowell: He successfully defended his French Open title just a few weeks ago, so his game is in a good place. He's also a skilled links player, having grown up near and fine-tuning his links skills at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland. He's also one of our favourite golfers to ever play the game.
2) Henrik Stenson: He's probably playing the best golf of his life right now and without a doubt has the skills to win (he finished second place last year at Muirfield). His golf game and results have changed dramatically over the years, and a major win would be the perfect finish for him. He's also a pick amongst many in the golfing world.
3) Luke Donald: He has had good finishes in a few recent Open Championships. He's also one of the more accurate players on both the European and PGA Tour. Accuracy is good for links style golf courses and it may be this factor that will make him win this week.
Dark Horse: Miguel Angel Jimenez: At 50 years old, he's proved that he still has what it takes to golf with the younger generation, with his Spanish Open win earlier this year. His experience in Open Championships will definitely help him this week too (He's finished in the top-15 for 3 out of the last 5 Open Championships). He's also an all-around great player and another one of our favourite golfers.
As win every major, we'll be having daily coverage and recaps of each round of the Open Championships, so stay tuned for those,
-Nick
Toronto Golf Reviews
Tuesday, July 15, 2014
2014 Open Championship Preview
The third major of the year, the 143rd Open Championship (or British Open) is set to start in just a few days at the iconic Royal Liverpool Golf Club in Hoylake, England. This is without a doubt one of the most, if not the most, historic tournament of professional golf. It's golf's oldest major and played on tough traditional links style golf courses. Given this, it's no surprise that the Open Championship is a favourite amongst many players and that it's here where we see how good players really are.
Situated on the shores of the Irish Sea, Royal Liverpool is a unique course in a few ways and shares a great deal of history with the Open Championship, being played there for the 12th time. The last time the Open Championship was played at Royal Liverpool was in 2006, where it was won by Tiger Woods in unusually windless but fast conditions. Incidentally, Tiger Woods will be in the field this week, despite recently having back surgery and this being his first tournament since missing the cut at the Quicken Loans National earlier this year.
Royal Liverpool is also infamous for it's finishing holes. Two out of its last three holes are par 5's (16th and 18th). This means that players will have scoring abilities much later in their rounds, which should make for an exciting finish come Sunday afternoon.
And of course this being a traditional links course located near the sea, the weather will also be a factor. Rain or winds can easily change the dynamic of the course. Rain is forecasted on Friday and Saturday, but you can never really predict the weather on a links course. Links courses also demand creativity and unconventionality that's not usually see on the typical golf course. Amercian Bubba Watson mentioned in his press interview earlier today that "[links golf requires] stuff you can't do in the States".
By the looks of it, this year's Open Championship is shaping up to be one of the more exciting ones. Stay tuned tomorrow for our picks on who we think is going to win this year,
-Nick
Toronto Golf Reviews
Situated on the shores of the Irish Sea, Royal Liverpool is a unique course in a few ways and shares a great deal of history with the Open Championship, being played there for the 12th time. The last time the Open Championship was played at Royal Liverpool was in 2006, where it was won by Tiger Woods in unusually windless but fast conditions. Incidentally, Tiger Woods will be in the field this week, despite recently having back surgery and this being his first tournament since missing the cut at the Quicken Loans National earlier this year.
Royal Liverpool is also infamous for it's finishing holes. Two out of its last three holes are par 5's (16th and 18th). This means that players will have scoring abilities much later in their rounds, which should make for an exciting finish come Sunday afternoon.
And of course this being a traditional links course located near the sea, the weather will also be a factor. Rain or winds can easily change the dynamic of the course. Rain is forecasted on Friday and Saturday, but you can never really predict the weather on a links course. Links courses also demand creativity and unconventionality that's not usually see on the typical golf course. Amercian Bubba Watson mentioned in his press interview earlier today that "[links golf requires] stuff you can't do in the States".
By the looks of it, this year's Open Championship is shaping up to be one of the more exciting ones. Stay tuned tomorrow for our picks on who we think is going to win this year,
-Nick
Toronto Golf Reviews
Sunday, July 13, 2014
2014 Scottish Open Predictions - Results
The final round of the 2014 Scottish Open has concluded and the winner of the tournament is Englishman Justin Rose, winning his first European Tour event since 2007. Rose also won the 2014 Quicken Loans National just two weeks ago. Rose finished his final round at 16-under (-16), which was good enough for a two shot victory over Swedish golfer Kristoffer Broberg.
Conditions were decent during today`s round, with wind speeds being lower than what was to be expected. The low round of the day was a 63, shot by Felipe Aguilar and Stephen Gallacher. Rose on the other hand shot a 65. Given his recent success in the last two weeks, he is surely a favourite going into the Open Championship next week. Maybe we`ll see a repeat of Phil Mickelson's feat last year?
As for our picks, here is how they finished up,
1) Matteo Manassero: T4 at 10-under (-10)
2) Miguel Angel Jimenez: T35 at 2-under (-2)
Good job on Matteo for finishing in the top-5.
Hopefully the players have fine-tuned their links-golf skills. Next week's Open Championship should be very interesting to watch. Stay tuned for our coverage of it.
-Nick
Toronto Golf Reviews
Conditions were decent during today`s round, with wind speeds being lower than what was to be expected. The low round of the day was a 63, shot by Felipe Aguilar and Stephen Gallacher. Rose on the other hand shot a 65. Given his recent success in the last two weeks, he is surely a favourite going into the Open Championship next week. Maybe we`ll see a repeat of Phil Mickelson's feat last year?
As for our picks, here is how they finished up,
1) Matteo Manassero: T4 at 10-under (-10)
2) Miguel Angel Jimenez: T35 at 2-under (-2)
Good job on Matteo for finishing in the top-5.
Hopefully the players have fine-tuned their links-golf skills. Next week's Open Championship should be very interesting to watch. Stay tuned for our coverage of it.
-Nick
Toronto Golf Reviews
Justin Rose Wins the 2014 Scottish Open (Action Sports)
Friday, July 11, 2014
2014 Scottish Open Predictions - Weekend Update
The weekday rounds of the 2014 Scottish Open have finished and the leaders going into the weekend are Argentinian Ricardo Gonzalez, Swedish golfer Kristoffer Broberg and Scotsman Marc Warren, all who are tied at 6-under (-6) and have a one shot lead over Englishman Justin Rose. The cut has also been set this week at 3-over (+3).
Wind played a factor in the first two rounds, making some par 4's nearly drivable while shortening tee shots on other holes. This made the already tough links-style Royal Aberdeen even tougher.
Here is how are picks are doing after the first two rounds:
1) Matteo Manassero: T19 at 1-under (-1)
2) Lee Westwood: CUT
3) Louis Oosthuizen: CUT
4) Miguel Angel Jimenez: T34 at even par (E)
Stay tuned to see how our picks finish the tournament,
-Nick
Toronto Golf Reviews
Wind played a factor in the first two rounds, making some par 4's nearly drivable while shortening tee shots on other holes. This made the already tough links-style Royal Aberdeen even tougher.
Here is how are picks are doing after the first two rounds:
1) Matteo Manassero: T19 at 1-under (-1)
2) Lee Westwood: CUT
3) Louis Oosthuizen: CUT
4) Miguel Angel Jimenez: T34 at even par (E)
Stay tuned to see how our picks finish the tournament,
-Nick
Toronto Golf Reviews
Wednesday, July 09, 2014
2014 Scottish Open Predictions
The 2014 Scottish Open (known formally as the 2014 Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open) is set to begin early tomorrow morning at Royal Aberdeen in Aberdeen, Scotland. The course, which is said to be the 6th oldest golf course in the world, is a links course and features many typical links course characteristics (i.e. rolling hills, deep bunkers, natural grassy areas along the fairway, unpredictable weather, etc.)
Since the Scottish Open is played on a links course and since it is the week before the Open Championship (which is also played on a links course), the tournament features many players who will be playing in the Open Championship as well. They use the Scottish Open as a week to brush up on and fine tune their game for links golf. Last year's winner, Phil Mickelson, did just this. After winning the Scottish Open, Phil claimed his golf game was the best it's ever been for links golf. He then went on to win the Open Championship the week after.
As mentioned before, weather will play a big part in the Scottish Open, as any change in weather will drastically alter the course. We'll have to wait and see how this will affect the players. However, here are our picks for the winner this year:
1) Matteo Manassero
2) Lee Westwood
3) Louis Oosthuizen
Also, TGR favourite Miguel Angel Jimenez is in the field, so we'll be watching him as well
Stay tuned for our weekend update of the 2014 Scottish Open,
-Nick
Toronto Golf Reviews
Since the Scottish Open is played on a links course and since it is the week before the Open Championship (which is also played on a links course), the tournament features many players who will be playing in the Open Championship as well. They use the Scottish Open as a week to brush up on and fine tune their game for links golf. Last year's winner, Phil Mickelson, did just this. After winning the Scottish Open, Phil claimed his golf game was the best it's ever been for links golf. He then went on to win the Open Championship the week after.
As mentioned before, weather will play a big part in the Scottish Open, as any change in weather will drastically alter the course. We'll have to wait and see how this will affect the players. However, here are our picks for the winner this year:
1) Matteo Manassero
2) Lee Westwood
3) Louis Oosthuizen
Also, TGR favourite Miguel Angel Jimenez is in the field, so we'll be watching him as well
Stay tuned for our weekend update of the 2014 Scottish Open,
-Nick
Toronto Golf Reviews
Sunday, July 06, 2014
Graeme McDowell Defends at the Alstom Open de France
It`s no secret that the Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell is a favourite around here and that we always pick him to win whichever tournament he plays in. Given this, you can imagine our reaction when Gmac won a tournament that we weren`t covering this week.
That`s right, GMac has won the Alstom Open de France again, this win becoming the first time he`s ever defended a tournament title. Last year, he finished with a four-stroke lead. This year. he finished the tournament at just 5-under par (-5) and shot a final round score of 67, which was good enough to earn him a win by one shot. It`s also worth noting that he overcame an eight shot deficit to win the tournament.
This is GMac`s tenth European tour win and his first of 2014. This win also moves him to just outside the Top-15 in the World Golf Rankings and puts him in a good spot for making the European Ryder Cup team. This is also the first time that he has won in consecutive European Tour seasons.
Let`s hope this gives GMac some good momentum going into the Open Championship in a couple of weeks.
-Nick
Toronto Golf Reviews
That`s right, GMac has won the Alstom Open de France again, this win becoming the first time he`s ever defended a tournament title. Last year, he finished with a four-stroke lead. This year. he finished the tournament at just 5-under par (-5) and shot a final round score of 67, which was good enough to earn him a win by one shot. It`s also worth noting that he overcame an eight shot deficit to win the tournament.
This is GMac`s tenth European tour win and his first of 2014. This win also moves him to just outside the Top-15 in the World Golf Rankings and puts him in a good spot for making the European Ryder Cup team. This is also the first time that he has won in consecutive European Tour seasons.
Let`s hope this gives GMac some good momentum going into the Open Championship in a couple of weeks.
-Nick
Toronto Golf Reviews
Graeme McDowell wins the Alstom Open de France for the second year in a row (Getty Images)
2014 Greenbrier Classic Predictions - Results
The final round of the 2014 Greenbrier Classic at the Old White TPC course in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia has just concluded and the winner is Argentinian Angel Cabrera. He finished the tournament at 16-under (-16) with a two-shot lead over American George McNeil. This is Cabrera's third PGA tour victory; his first if you exclude his US Open and Masters wins in 2007 and 2009
The tournament looked promising for McNeil, who carded a 61 in his final round (which included a hole-in-one), but Cabrera was able to rally for the win by shooting back-to-back 64's on the weekend. American Webb Simpson also came close to winning by shooting a final round 63.
Oddly enough, two hole-in-ones were shot in the final round, within 30 minutes of each other; one by McNeil and the other by American Bud Cauley.
As for our picks, here is how they finished:
1) Kevin Na: T52 at 2-under (-2)
2) Brenden Todd: T4 at 9-under (-9)
3) Bill Haas: T23 at 6-under (-6)
Stay tuned next week for more PGA Tour/European Tour coverage,
-Nick
Toronto Golf Reviews
The tournament looked promising for McNeil, who carded a 61 in his final round (which included a hole-in-one), but Cabrera was able to rally for the win by shooting back-to-back 64's on the weekend. American Webb Simpson also came close to winning by shooting a final round 63.
Oddly enough, two hole-in-ones were shot in the final round, within 30 minutes of each other; one by McNeil and the other by American Bud Cauley.
As for our picks, here is how they finished:
1) Kevin Na: T52 at 2-under (-2)
2) Brenden Todd: T4 at 9-under (-9)
3) Bill Haas: T23 at 6-under (-6)
Stay tuned next week for more PGA Tour/European Tour coverage,
-Nick
Toronto Golf Reviews
Angel Cabrera Wins the 2014 Greenbrier Classic
Saturday, July 05, 2014
2014 Greenbrier Classic Predictions - Weekend Update
The weekday rounds are now over at the 2014 Greenbrier Classic, with the cut being set at even par (E). The winner going into the weekend rounds is American and former Nationwide Tour player Billy Hurley III, who shot a 68/63 to hold the lead at 9-under par (-9), a one shot lead over fellow Americans Kevin Chappell and Chris Stroud.
It's also worth noting that almost 70% of the players who are currently qualified for the Open Championship (that are playing in this tournament) made the cut, which the closest to the lead being Steve Sticker and Chris Kirk.
As for our picks, here is how they scored on their opening rounds:
1) Kevin Na: T13 at 4-under (-4)
2) Brenden Todd: T36 at 2-under (-2)
3) Bill Haas: T54 at 1-under (-1)
As for our fellow Canadian player, Mike Weir, he failed to make the cut.
Stay tuned to see how our picks finish the tournament,
-Nick
Toronto Golf Reviews
It's also worth noting that almost 70% of the players who are currently qualified for the Open Championship (that are playing in this tournament) made the cut, which the closest to the lead being Steve Sticker and Chris Kirk.
As for our picks, here is how they scored on their opening rounds:
1) Kevin Na: T13 at 4-under (-4)
2) Brenden Todd: T36 at 2-under (-2)
3) Bill Haas: T54 at 1-under (-1)
As for our fellow Canadian player, Mike Weir, he failed to make the cut.
Stay tuned to see how our picks finish the tournament,
-Nick
Toronto Golf Reviews
Billy Hurley holds the lead going into the weekend at the 2014 Greenbrier Classic (Todd Warshaw/Getty Images)
Wednesday, July 02, 2014
2014 Greenbrier Classic Predictions
The 2014 Greenbrier Classic starts tomorrow morning at the Old White TPC course in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. This is a tournament played by many to make sure their game is up to par for the upcoming Open Championship, which starts at Royal Liverpool in just two weeks.
With that in mind, here are our picks for the winner this year:
1) Kevin Na: He's really on his game at the moment and a win for him wouldn't surprise me
2) Brenden Todd
3) Bill Haas
Also, we'll be keeping an eye on Mike Weir, who is a local favourite here.
There are also a few notable players playing the Greenbrier Classic this year, such as Sir Nick Faldo, Tom Watson, Darren Clarke, and John Daly.
Stay tuned Friday evening to see how our picks are doing and who the leader going into the weekend is,
-Nick
Toronto Golf Reviews
With that in mind, here are our picks for the winner this year:
1) Kevin Na: He's really on his game at the moment and a win for him wouldn't surprise me
2) Brenden Todd
3) Bill Haas
Also, we'll be keeping an eye on Mike Weir, who is a local favourite here.
There are also a few notable players playing the Greenbrier Classic this year, such as Sir Nick Faldo, Tom Watson, Darren Clarke, and John Daly.
Stay tuned Friday evening to see how our picks are doing and who the leader going into the weekend is,
-Nick
Toronto Golf Reviews
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)