Brendan Jones will join countryman Richard Green to represent Australia at the 2008 Omega Mission Hills World Cup to be played from November 27-30 at the Mission Hills Golf Club in China.

Jones’ inclusion to partner Green will see the duo attempt to claim the World Cup for the Aussies for the fifth time in history, the last time being in 1989 when Queenslander Wayne Grady and New South Welshman Peter Fowler raised the trophy in Marbella Spain.

Green, the highest ranked Australian on the Official World Rankings to accept the World Cup invitation, chose Jones to partner him at the event where Green will make his second appearance and Jones his first.   

Speaking from his home base in Canberra before heading back to compete in Japan, Jones said he was thrilled to be representing the green and gold at the senior level.  

“It’s really exciting for me to be representing Australia and great to be asked by Greeny to be his partner,” said Jones. “I played for Australia in my amateur days but this is a whole new level and is a real highlight for me towards the end of the year.”

Both Green and Jones have runs on the board at the international level with a total of 14 victories between them.

Green has twice won in New Caledonia, has two European Tour titles and one on the Australasian Tour, whilst Jones has a Nationwide Tour title and an incredible eight wins on the Japan Golf Tour.

Currently ranked world number 52, 37 year old Richard Green turned professional in 1992 and has played regularly on the Australasian and European Tours. A former Victorian State Junior Champion, he won the 1994 and 1996 New Caledonian Open’s before claiming his first big international victory at the 1997 Dubai Classic where he was triumphant in a three way play-off over Greg Norman and Ian Woosnam and became the first first left hander to win on the European Tour since Bob Charles in 1974.

The Victorian made his first appearance at the World Cup in 1998 when it was the World Cup of Golf, held at the Gulf Harbour CC in New Zealand. He partnered Peter O’Malley and the pair finished in a tie for ninth behind winner’s Nick Faldo and David Carter of England.

His next win came on home soil at the 2004 MasterCard Masters where he won on the first-hole of a playoff from Greg Chalmers and David McKenzie and also claimed the 2004 Australasian Tour Order of Merit crown. 

In 2007 he won his second European Tour event at the BA – CA Golf Open in Austria and followed that with a tie for 4th at the Open Championship at Carnoustie, his best finish at a Major after firing a course record equaling seven under 64 in the final round.

Thirty three year old Brendan Jones is currently ranked world number 74. He turned professional in 1999 after an outstanding amateur career that saw him crowned the 1999 Australian Amateur and 1998 Riversdale Cup winner, as well as representing Australia at the Eisenhower Trophy and Four Nations.

He claimed his first international title in 2002 at the Philip Morris KK Championship in Japan and has won a further seven titles on the Japan Golf Tour since, including three in 2007. His victories include: 2002 Philip Morris KK Championship, 2003 Sun Chlorella Classic, 2004 Tsuruya Open, 2004 Mizuno Open, 2006 Tsuruya Open, 2007 Tsuruya Open, 2007 Mitsui Sumitomo VISA Taiheiyo Masters and 2007 Golf Nippon Series JT Cup.

He also spent some time in 2004 on the US Nationwide Tour where he claimed the La Salle Bank Open.

The Omega Mission Hills World Cup has a format that sees the first and third rounds using the fourball better ball format while the second and final rounds will use the more difficult foursomes (alternate shot) format.

Jones is confident that the style of golf will work for he and Green.

“I think we are pretty consistent players and the format should really suit us and hopefully we’ll do well,” he said.

The pair will come up against defending champions Scotland, who will seek to win back-to-back titles with Colin Montgomerie looking to retain the trophy he and Marc Warren claimed in 2007 after defeating the USA in a play-off.

Prior to 1989, Australia had won the World Cup three times. The first was in 1954 when Peter Thomson and Kel Nagle held the cup aloft in just its second year of competition in Montreal, Canada. Five years later, the pair won again in Melbourne, Australia but it was another 11 years before Australia tasted success again, when David Graham and Bruce Devlin won in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

David Smail and Mark Brown will represent New Zealand in the event, with Smail making his fourth appearance and Brown his first.

TEAMS CURRENTLY QUALIFIED FOR THE 2008 OMEGA MISSION HILLS WORLD CUP ARE:

Australia Richard Green, Brendan Jones

Chile Felipe Aquilar, Mark Tullo

Denmark Soren Hansen, Anders Hansen

England Ian Poulter, Ross Fisher

France Gregory Havret, Gregory Bourdy

Germany Martin Kaymer, Alex Cejka

India Jeev M. Singh, Jyoti Randhawa

Ireland Graeme McDowell, Paul McGinley

Italy Francesco Molinari and Edoardo Molinari

Japan Ryuji Imada, Toru Taniguchi

Korea Bae Sang-moon and Kim Hyung-tae

New Zealand Mark Brown, David Smail

Phillipines Angelo Que and Mars Pucay

Scotland Alastair Forysth, Colin Montgomerie

South Africa Rory Sabbatini, Richard Sterne

Spain Miguel Angel Jimenez, Pablo Larrazabal

Sweden Henrik Stenson, Robert Karlsson

Taiwan Wen-Tang Lin, Wen-Teh Lu

Thailand Prayad Marksaeng, Thongchai Jaidee

United States (TBD)

Wales Bradley Dredge, Richard Johnson

Source: PGA of Australia

Jim Furyk hugs Justin Leonard after defeating Spain’s Miquel Angel Jimenez to secure the Ryder Cup for the US after three successive European victories.

The United States have won The Ryder Cup for the first time since 1999, ending a run of three successive victories for Europe.

Jim Furyk secured the winning point, defeating Miguel Angel Jiménez on the 17th green to take the US total to an insurmountable 14 ½ points.

Victory in the top singles match by Anthony Kim over Sergio Garcia set the tone for the day at the Valhalla Golf Club in Kentucky.

While Paul Casey secured a battling half with Hunter Mahan and Robert Karlsson and Justin Rose both delivered for Europe, defeating Justin Leonard and Phil Mickelson, the next four matches all went to the US.

The two home town Kentuckians played their part, Kenny Perry getting the better of Henrik Stenson 3 & 2 and J B Holmes holding off Soren Hansen 2&1. Boo Weekley was also sensational in beating Oliver Wilson 4&2.

The end came when Furyk safely parred the 17th hole after Jiménez failed a 25 foot birdie chance that would have extended the the match for another hole.

HAVING a mid or later life crisis and can’t afford a new sports car? Perhaps Callaway ’s new FT-iQ Driver will fit the bill.

Among all the usual technical babble and sales hyperbole - we’re talking about the “New dawn” of the “World’s Smartest Driver” here - Callaway claims the club was styled on the Lamborghini Reventon sports car. As well as the odd stealth jet.

In fact, it seems Callaway can’t quite decide on which futuristic image to push with the FT-iQ.

If you look at the short video here that as of this post date breathlessly announces there are only 26 days until “A new dawn in power and control” and that “Straight distance has arrived”, you will see that the FT-iQ driver is depicted more like a Star Wars style space fighter blasting into hyperspace.

The FT-iQ was unveiled at Callaway Golf’s national sales meeting in Rancho Bernardo, California this month and what all the hype seems to be aimed at is getting over the perception (and user comments) that the previous FT-i models hit straight all right but lacked distance.

“FT-iQ is a smart driver because power without precision is useless,” said Jeff Colton, Senior Vice President, Research and Development, Callaway Golf. “Not only is FT-iQ the longest driver we’ve ever developed, it’s also 35% straighter than FT-i, our previous benchmark for accuracy.”

According to the Callaway investor press release, it is the most technologically-advanced driver in the company’s history.

“FT-iQ is the result of a multi-year, multi-million dollar program undertaken by Callaway Golf’s world-renowned Research and Development team. Pushing multi-material Fusion Technology beyond previously held limits, the FT-iQ melds several cutting edge components into a sleek shape inspired by stealth jets and futuristic concept cars. Callaway Golf’s designers believe it is the smartest, most advanced driver in the world,” the release said. Whew.

FT-iQ is available in men’s and women’s versions in both standard and Tour models. The standard models feature 9, 10, 11, and 13 (HT) degree lofts. The 10 and 11 degree models are available in left-handed versions. The Tour version has a slightly more open face, and is available in 8.5 and 9.5 degree lofts; the latter is also available in a left-handed version.

The club will be available in Australia from October 15.

Having said all that, I want one. I think the new Callaway FT-iQ Driver would look good in the back of the not very new Camry station wagon. Might give it a bit more power and class and inspire it to greater performance.

QUEENSLANDER Stephen Pitt has been named as the new chief executive of Golf Australia.

Pitt is an experienced sports administrator and was selected from more than 160 applicants after the resignation of former CEO Tony Hallam in June.

As CEO of Golf Queensland for the past two and a half years, Pitt played a key role in the successful merging of the Queensland Golf Union and Women’s Golf Queensland.

Pitt, a 10-handicapper at Brisbane Golf Club, was previously CEO of Athletics Queensland for five years and has also worked in marketing roles for the Queensland Olympic Council and Surf Lifesaving Queensland.

“I’m very excited about the appointment, which gives me an opportunity to make a contribution to the game in Australia,” Pitt said. “I’m disappointed to be leaving Golf Queensland, but this is a chance to take a step forward.”

Golf Australia chairman Anne Lenagan said Pitt was the ideal person to lead the organisation into the future.

“After an extensive search, we believe his experience in sports administration and marketing makes Stephen the ideal appointment,” she said.

Pitt will formally begin his position in early November.

PROVING it’s never too late, English amateur golfer Gary Wolstenholme has decided to turn pro at the ripe old age of 48.

Wolstenholme, one of the world’s best known and most successful amateurs, gained further notoriety earlier this year when he was called in as first alternate for the U.S. Open.

Much was made of the fact that while some of his fellow competitors were swanning around in their private jets, the cash strapped and acknowledged quirky Englishman was found dining on the free sandwiches in the locker room because he couldn’t afford to eat out.

Wolstenholme is England’s most capped amateur and also famously beat Tiger Woods in the 1995 Walker Cup.

he revelled in the irritation he caused to young opponents, who would berate themselves for being outplayed by an old man who was so short off the tee

“I have been thinking about turning pro when I get to 50 for some time,” Wolstenholme said this week. “And then I thought to myself, ‘There is not much more to do.’ I have won 218 caps for England, won the Amateur Championship twice, as well as more than 70 tournaments on all five continents.

“I was 48 last month and I suddenly thought, ‘I am not preparing myself properly for when I am 50. My golf is not improving. Why don’t I turn pro now?’ And so I did.”

Wolstenholme has entered the first stage of the European Tour qualifying school in Scotland and has already received an invitation to the Kazakhstan Open on the Challenge Tour and hopes he might then play on the main circuit at the Portugal Masters next month.

Wolstenholme is trying to sell his house to raise some operating expenses and is back living with his mother in Lancashire to save money.

“It’s a little bit frightening because it’s a massive change, but it’s also hugely exciting,” he said.

Wolstenholme is know for his personal foibles and talkativeness -he travels with his own pillow and listens attentively to his biorhythms.

According to the TimesOnline he is also known for being one of the shortest hitters to reach the top of the amateur game.

“To compensate, he developed exceptional accuracy and a devastating short game to go with good mid-iron play. In addition - and this is not an insignificant attribute - he has always risen to the occasion. He loved the limelight, even when he was being outdriven, and at matchplay he revelled in the irritation he caused to young opponents, who would berate themselves for being outplayed by an old man who was so short off the tee,” the TimesOnline said

Horton Park’s David Grenfell has won the 2008 Queensland Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship after shooting a final round one-under par 71 at Club Pelican.

The championship has become a popular annual event and is is open to male amateur golfers aged between 30 and 54.

In fine but breezy conditions, Grenfell registered birdies on holes 5, 7 and 8 on his way to an outward 34, in the process catching overnight leader Shane Wylie who failed to recover from a poor start.

Having bogeyed the tight par 4 15^thhole, Grenfell held firm down the stretch with pars on the closing three holes. A perfect drive followed by a seven-iron to the long par-4 18^th sealed the two-shot win from defending champion and Club Pelican member Brian McAllister. 

Grenfell’s victory was all the more impressive considering he started the tournament with a scratchy 78, before shooting combined par rounds on the last two days for a final 6-over par total of 222.   

McAllister, who held the first day lead, also finished strongly with a 74 to claim outright second place, with another local player David Burton shooting a final round 74 to finish third.  

The Caloundra Tourism Upper Mid Amateur division was won by Greg Ebinger from Spring Valley with a three round total of233.

The Club Pelican team of Jim Brodie, David Burton and Brian McAllister held onto their overnight lead to take the FootjoyClub Teams Event.

Round 2 Report

 Posted 9 September 2008

Logan City’s Shane Wylie held a two shot leading heading into the third and final round of the Queensland Mid-Amateur Golf Championship at Club Pelican. The ever consistent Wylie followed his first round 73 with a second round 74 for a three-over par total of 147, on a day that saw the average round holding steady at around 85.

Sitting alone in second spot was Redcliffe’s Steven Johnston following a second round 76, with Justin Shine and overnight leader Brian McAllister a further shot back at a six-over par total of 150.

Low round of the day came from Keperra’s Mark Draper who shot a two under par 70.

In the Caloundra Tourism Upper Mid-Amateur division (44 to 54 years), local Club Pelican member David Burton leads by one shot on a seven-over par 151, from Horton Park’s Ross Richards.

In the Footjoy Club Teams Event, the Club Pelican team of Jim Brodie, David Burton and Brian McAllister hold a one shot lead from teams from Killara and Windaroo.

The championship is open to male amateur golfers aged between 30 and 54.

Information and photographs courtesy of Golf Queensland

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Queensland Mid Amateur Golf Preview

 By Ramsay McMaster Golf Physiotherapist

1. RUSHING TO THE GOLF COURSE

Common technical breakdowns caused:

• Disruption of golf rhythm
• High anxiety levels, in turn leading to tension
• Poor control of breathing

Common injuries possible:

• Wrist - to tendons, cartilage or bones
• Neck - to joints, discs, ligaments or muscles
• Low back - muscle strains, disc injuries, joint problems

2. DRAGGING GOLF BAG AND CLUBS

Common technical breakdowns caused:

• Poor alignment in address position
• Poor posture at setup
• Excessive strain through particular muscles e.g. wrist & neck
• Increased gripping

Common injuries possible:

• Neck - to joints, discs, ligaments or muscles
• Low back - muscle strains, disc injuries, joint problems
• Shoulder & rotator cuff - muscle strains, tendon injury/tears

3. BOUNCING IN FORWARD FLEXION

Common technical breakdowns caused:

• Bad flexion postures
• Reduced activity of flexor muscles
• Stiffens back, leading to poor sequencing of golf swing

Common injuries possible:

• Low back - muscle strains, disc injuries, joint problems
• Hamstring strainsww.golfmed.net

4. POOR ROTATION SEQUENCING

Common technical breakdowns caused:

• Compensatory sway in swing
• Poor weight transference
• Poor balance
• Poor shoulder position on backswing and follow through

Common injuries possible:

• Low back - muscle strains, disc injuries, joint problems
• Neck - to joints, discs, ligaments or muscles

5. WARMING UP WITH MULTIPLE CLUBS

Common technical breakdowns caused:

• Compensation movements in arms
• Altered proprioception
• Altered weight control
• Overswinging
• Reversed C positions & reversed pivot

Common injuries possible:

• Low back - muscle strains, disc injuries, joint problems
• Left hip strains
• Shoulder & rotator cuff - muscle strains, tendon injury/tears

6. HITTING WOODS TO START WARM UP

Common technical breakdowns caused:

• Alters feel due to practicing power before feel
• Over swinging
• Incorrect sequencing
• Use of incorrect muscles

Common injuries possible:

• Low back - muscle strains, disc injuries, joint problems
• Shoulder & rotator cuff - muscle strains, tendon injury/tears

7. HITTING BALLS INTO NETS OFF HARD SURFACES

Common technical breakdowns caused:

• Jarring of body
• Altered co-ordination

Common injuries possible:

• Neck - to joints, discs, ligaments or muscles
• Shoulder & rotator cuff - muscle strains, tendon injury/tears
• Low back - muscle strains, disc injuries, joint problems

Ramsay McMaster is an industry leading golf specific physiotherapist who has worked with thousands of average golfers, with leading tour pros and coaches, with major golf organisations in Australia and around the world and is the founder of the Melbourne Golf Injury Clinic.

For further information, individual assessment or advice on programs email Ramsay at golfphysio@golfmed.net or visit golfmed.net

Ramsay McMaster and the Melbourne Golf Injury Clinic: Related Articles

Ramsay McMaster Golf Fitness

Your 5 Minute Golf Warm-up

WALKING not only boosts physical health but new Australian research shows it can also help your brain stay younger longer.

That’s good news for (the many cartless) older golfers and means that even if your score starts to skyrocket as your aging body deteriorates, at least you’ll still have the mental capacity to add it all up at the end of the round.

The University of Western Australia study was conducted over 18 months with 170 participants aged over 50 who felt they had memory problems.

The participants were divided into two groups and for six months one group aimed to walk for 50 minutes three times a week or participate in other moderate exercise.

The other group continued with their usual activities.

Results revealed the exercise group performed better on cognitive tasks and had superior delayed recall than the other group.

The landmark study was published this week in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Lead researcher, Nicola Lautenschlager of the University of Melbourne, said the improved memory occurred not only during the trial but for 12 months after the end of the physical activity program.

“We have known for a long time that exercise is a great way to improve cardiovascular health, but it may be that in the future exercise can also be recommended to protect against the ageing brain,” she said.

“The improvement on the memory testing was significant and it was higher than in previous drug trials with Alzheimer’s (disease) medications in patients with mild cognitive impairment.

Professor Lautenschlager said she believed this was the first ever trial to demonstrate that exercise can boost memory in older adults at risk of developing conditions such as Alzheimer’s.

She said brisk walking was the safest form of exercise for older people and the results suggested 20 minutes of daily exercise could possibly delay the onset of conditions such as dementia.

“We are not talking onerous, dramatic physical activity but (walking 20 minutes is) something which I think most people would feel, ‘yeah that is something I could incorporate into my daily routine’.”

Playing golf for four plus hours, including all the walking and associated physical activity, would have to more than fit the bill. We’d have to concede that even those using carts are still getting enough exercise to keep some blood flowing to the brain.

The Australian study comes on top of a recent Swedish study that found playing regular golf can actually prolong your life.

The study showed the death rate for golfers is 40 per cent lower than for other people of the same sex, age and socioeconomic status. See Golfers live Longer

The strong six man Australian team chosen to compete in the 2008 Asia-Pacific Senior Golf Championship in Malaysia in November is hoping to go one better after previous national teams finished second in the last two championships.

The Australian team includes Rick Oliver (NSW), Denis Dale (NSW), Ross Percy (VIC), Brian Sams (NSW), Nigel Goodall (WA) and Stefan Albinski (NSW).

Oliver and Dale are current winner and runner-up respectively of the recently completed Australian Senior Order of Merit and the rest of the team have been in winning form at various events throughout the year.

In his first year of eligibility for AUSOOM events (Aged 55+), Sydney’s Stefan Albinski has had a major impact and is the current Australian Senior Amateur Golf Championship winner.

Albinski also won the 2008 Queensland Senior Amateur Championship and the North Sydney Seniors Championship in June and recently tested his skills in trying conditions at the 2008 British Senior Open Amateur Championship.

The Asia Pacific Senior Golf Championship will be played over 54 holes at the Karambunai Golf Resort, Sabah, Malaysia from November 11-13, 2008.

See: Australian Wins Asia Pacific Senior Golf Championship

Men’s Senior Match Play returns to Barwon Heads Golf Club

The Australian Men’s Senior Amateur Match Play Championship will return to the challenging Barwon Heads Golf Club for the 64 player match play event to be held from the 5 - 10 October 2008.

The top 64 ranked players on the Men’s Senior Order of Merit (who enter) will be drawn to play for the title of Australian Men’s Senior Amateur Match Play Champion.

Golf Australia says with the guarantee of six rounds (defeated players continue playing all week) of golf at the picturesque Barwon Heads layout and the relaxed feel of the seaside location, the Championship will be a highlight of the Australian Seniors golfing calendar.

Entries for this event close on Monday September 8. For details see the AUSOOM website or for a list of current entries and entry form see the Golf Australia listing here.

State Senior Golf Championships

Also coming up soon on the senior amateur golfing calendar is the 2008 South Australian Seniors Championship to be played at Murray Bridge Golf Club from October 22-24 and the 2008 Victorian Seniors Championship at Rosebud Golf Club from October 27-30.

(Australian Senior Golfer site Navigation Tip: To see all AUSOOM related stories click on the Events\AUSOOM category at the top of the page, or you can click on the AUSOOM “tag” below the headline in related stories. You can also use the Google Custom Search function in the sidebar to search this site.)