Golf, by TourMiss

Former champion Martin Laird tees-up in this week’s Valero Texas Open knowing there will not be the rush or stress of eight years ago in heading to the Masters. It’s been eight years since Laird last competed at Augusta National but the overwhelming joy of winning in San Antonio was somewhat spoilt five days later in missing the Masters cut and, in a small way, attributed to a frantic Sunday night post his win in the Lone Star State. In 2013, Laird came from four shots off the lead heading into ...

For the Irish duo of Padraig Harrington and Graeme McDowell this week’s Valero Texas Open is an Augusta ‘Last Chance Saloon’. The Euro 6.56m event being played again on the Greg Norman designed TPC San Antonio course offers the last invitation into next week’s 85th hosting of the Masters. There have been some wonderful stories over the years of players winning in Texas, given the Shell Houston Open used to be on the PGA Tour schedule in the week prior to the Masters before the event lost ...

European Ryder Cup captain Padraig Harrington admits he’s being ‘selfish’ in suggesting Rory McIlroy get his poor form out of the way prior to September’s Wisconsin showdown. McIlroy has this week off to find the form that’s won him four majors and 23 other tournaments around the globe. It’s now over 500 days since last won out in the Far East while August will mark seven years since his last Major triumph. And next week will hopefully be a lucky ‘Take 7’ in McIlroy’s quest to join ...

Graeme McDowell heads to Texas declaring ‘massive progress’ with his share of fourth place at the Corales Puntacana Championship in Puerto Rico. McDowell was five-under coming to the last two holes but walked out with a pair of closing bogeys in a three-under par 69 and finish on 10-under in bright but windy conditions on the Caribbean island where he had won in 2019. American Joel Dahmen, 33, captured his maiden Tour title courtesy of a closing round of 70 and win by a shot at 12-under par. McDowell ...

Robert MacIntyre will no doubt get his first look at Augusta National later this coming week with confirmation the young Scot will play his first Masters. Augusta National advised MacIntrye will become the 27th Scottish-born golfer to compete in the Masters since 1934 and in what this year will be the 85th hosting of the Masters starting on 8th April at the revered Georgia golfing gem. The Masters allocated Monday March 29th as the second-last qualifying date for those inside the top-50 on the ...

Rory McIlroy’s now got just 12 days to find winning form before teeing-up in the year’s first major at Augusta National. McIlroy was jetting home to Florida after scrambling his way to a half in his match against Aussie Cam Smith on day three of the WGC – Dell Match-Play Championship in Austin, Texas. Though it was all too late with both McIlroy and Smith bundled out after Ian Poulter made it three wins from three matches in their group match in defeating American Lanto Griffin 2 & 1. Smith, ...

Tommy Fleetwood pulled-off the par of all pars to not only win 1-up and leave a more fancied Bryson DeChambeau bog-smacked but also clinch the group win on day three of the WGC – Dell Match-Play Championship in Austin, Texas. Fleetwood’s caddy Ian Finnis had earlier broken a wooden crosswalk sign in half in trying to remove it so Fleetwood wouldn’t hit it while playing his shot. Finnis looked surprised as what he’d down and then after he threw down the top half of the sign, he shrugged ...