Golf, by TourMiss

Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee celebrated his first-ever competitive round in South Africa with a seven under par 65 on the opening day of the Volvo Champions event in Durban. Jaidee, 43 birdied six of his opening 10 holes to end the day three strokes clear of the South African Major winning pair of Ernie Els and Louis Oosthuizen on the famed Durban Country Club course. Jaidee qualified for the elite 33-player field in capturing last year’s Wales Open. “This is my first event in 2013 and it’s ...

Colin Montgomerie is gearing up to make a spectacular return to the Ryder Cup arena to be named 2014 Gleneagles captain at next Tuesday’s committee vote in Abu Dhabi. There was no hiding Monty’s joy on the eve of the Volvo Champions event in Durban at the thought of being asked to again lead Europe and this time virtually in his own Perthshire backyard. The Tournament Players Committee will meet in the UAE capital to appoint a successor to Medinah miracle worker, Jose Maria Olazabal. Thomas Bjorn, ...

The appointment of a new European Ryder Cup captain next Tuesday in Abu Dhabi will not be swayed by the PGA of America decision choosing Tom Watson to captain the US team for the 2014 Ryder Cup in Scotland. The Tournament Players Committee will meet in the UAE capital to select a successor to Spain’s 2012 Medinah winning Jose Maria Olazabal. However long-time Committee chairman Thomas Bjorn, and contrary to the recent remarks of fellow committee man Darren Clarke, has ruled out the 13-man committee ...

Reigning Open Champion Ernie Els has again his disgus golf’s ruling authorities will ban anchoring the belly or long putter to any part of the body. Els is among the favourites to capture this week’s Volvo Champions event and on the Durban Country Club course where he has won two South African Open titles including one with a 25-under par victory tally. However the current World No. 24 was again drawn into the belly and long-handled putter debate on the eve of this week’s Euro ...

While many of Europe’s best golfers fight for a Euro 350,000 first prize cheque Volvo Champions officials remain anxious with an expected crowd of 70,000 to gather on Saturday in the close by Kings Park Stadium to celebrate the 101stanniversary of the Africa National Congress (ANC). A temporary tournament practice range has been set up for players on two football fields beside the home ground of the Super 15 Natal Sharks rugby team. Players, as can been seen in the photo below of Colin Montgomerie, ...

Triple Major winning Padraig Harrington has expressed ‘massive sympathy’ current World No. 1 Rory McIlroy should be facing the dilemma of what country he should represent in 2016 Olympic Games. McIlroy has hinted that given the continuing controversy on whether to represent Ireland or Team Great Britain of even stepping down from travelling to Rio de Janeiro when golf returns to the Olympics in three years time. Harrington along with LGPA stars Annika Sorenstam and Michelle Wie helped in the ...

Padraig Harrington has returned to Durban on the east South Africa coastline 17 years after making his wEuropean Tour debut. Harrington had been in Nairobi for a Challenge Tour event and got a start in his first European Tour event when three other players withdrew and decided not to travel to Durban for the FNB Players Championship staged on this week’s same Volvo Champions host venue at the Durban Country Club. Despite confessing to playing “terribly” from tee to green, the now three-time ...