Golf, by TourMiss

Four days after the frustration of a cold putter at Hilton Head and Graeme McDowell needed just 22 putts to muscle his way to contention early on day one of the Valero Texas Open in San Antonio. And McDowell’s decision to skip the Saturday’s “Wedding of the Year” reaped immediate dividends with his best start all season around the TPC San Antonio course. McDowell grabbed seven birdies in a four-under par 68 to be in the clubhouse trailing just two behind South African Branden Grace. The ...

Tiger Woods is now likely to miss the remainder of the season in revealing he has undergone yet further back surgery to alleviate pain in his back and legs. However, Woods said via his website on Thursday he still hopes to return to professional golf. “The surgery went well, and I’m optimistic this will relieve my back spasms and pain,” said Woods. “When healed, I look forward to getting back to a normal life, playing with my kids, competing in professional golf and living without the pain ...

What has not been mentioned in any report following the first round of the rain delayed Shenzhen International is that Bubba Watson contested the round using a white golf ball. Where was the pink golf balls he has been using this season after having signed a deal with Korean based ball manufacturer, Vovik Of course, Watson is also looking for a first victory since February last season and in capturing the Northern Trust Open. The double Masters winner posted a six under par 66 before just under ...

Graeme McDowell reluctantly turned down one invitation this week in the goal of earning a Master’s invitation with victory at this week’s Valero Texas Open. McDowell and his wife, Kristin had been invited to be guests this Saturday at the wedding in Ireland of Rory McIlroy and his new wife, Erica. However, the McDowell’s had been forced to politely decline given McDowell needs to regain best man winning form at this week’s $US 6.2m event at TPC San Antonio. McDowell is the lone Irishman in ...

Rookie Perth professional Curtis Luck could feel right at “home” this week in the play-for-play ranks at the Valero Texas Open at TPC San Antonio. The $US 6.2m event is the first of nine invitations afforded to the 20-year-old during the remainder of the 2017 season. The event is again being staged on the Greg Norman designed Oaks Course featuring narrow and tree-lined fairways with plenty of rocky outcrops. After being over-looked for an invitation last week at Hilton Head it has ...

Tiger Woods has hit his first golf shots in public since last February but the 14-time Major Champion is still no closer to returning to full competition. Woods was guest of honour at Big Cedar Lodge on the outskirts of Springfield in the US State of Missouri to unveil plans for his first public course design. The course is being named Payne’s Valley in honour of the Missouri born Payne Stewart who won two US Opens and a PGA Championship before his death in a 1999 plane crash and shortly after ...

Fort Lauderdale, FL …  Close friend Graeme McDowell and six-time Major winning Nick Faldo believe newly married Rory McIlroy’s golfing career big test will come when he and his new wife elect to have children. McIlroy will marry American-born Erica Stroll this weekend in a glittering ceremony at Ashford Castle in Co. Mayo, Ireland Among the golfer’s certain to be present will be Ryder Cup captains, Paul McGinley and Darren Clarke along with Padraig Harrington, Shane Lowry and McIlroy’s caddy ...