Written by Rob McGarr on Wednesday 13 April 2016
We’re excited about Olympic golf. Sure, we’d rather it was in a more interesting format than the 72-hole strokeplay we see almost every single week, but we’d rather have that than nothing. And some of the world’s best players feel exactly the same way. World number two Jordan Spieth says, “Winning a gold medal has got to be up there now, in...
Written by Rob McGarr on Tuesday 12 April 2016
Danny Willett wasn’t the only European to fare well during the 2016 Masters. There were seven Europeans in the top-15 at the end of play, and only five Americans, despite nearly half of the field being American. Willett, the first European winner since Jose Maria Olazabal in 1999, was joined in the top-10 by Lee Westwood, who finished tied-second with Jordan...
Written by Courses & Travel Editor Kevin Brown on Monday 11 April 2016
Newly-crowned Masters champion Danny Willett not surprisingly has Georgia at the forefront of his mind when carefully selecting his 10 favourite courses on Planet Golf… ► Augusta National, Georgia, USA I’ve now played in two Masters and even if you take the fact that it’s the Masters to one side. Without the crowds though it feels a bit strange and I think the...
Written by Rob McGarr on Monday 11 April 2016
The 2016 Masters was Jordan Spieth’s to win. Spieth had a five-shot lead as he reached the 10th tee. Three holes later, he’d dropped six shots and found himself off the top of the leaderboard for the first time that day. Danny Willett is the main story, and his fantastic achievement should not be undermined by suggestions that Spieth handed it...
Monday 11 April 2016
The world of golf may still be coming to terms with Danny Willett’s dramatic victory last night, but what does it all mean for your Fantasy Golf team? The final round chucked up plenty of surprises along the way and it’s hard not to feel rueful if you had Jordan Spieth in your team, let alone as captain. The big...
Monday 11 April 2016
Danny Willett shot a bogey-free final round of 67 to win the Masters by three shots and become only the second Englishman to win at Augusta National – after Jordan Spieth endured a calamitous journey around Amen Corner when the American was seemingly poised to retain the title. Spieth made four birdies in a row to reach the turn in...
Written by Rob McGarr on Sunday 10 April 2016
Bernhard Langer’s average driving distance on the PGA Tour Champions this year is 276.9 yards. That’s perfectly acceptable on a tour made up of over-50s, but at the Masters he’s not only competing with players in their sixth decade; he’s competing with the best – and most powerful – golfers in the world. Langer played with world number one Jason Day...
Sunday 10 April 2016
Spieth stays out in front Jordan Spieth will take a one-shot lead into the final round of the Masters despite a poor finish to day three dragged him back to three under at Augusta. Spieth will be paired with Smylie Kaufman after his compatriot shot a three-under 69, the only sub-70 round on a day of tough scoring, to get to...
Saturday 9 April 2016
Jordan maintains slim lead over Rory Jordan Spieth remains out in front after the second round of the Masters, but will play in the last group on Saturday alongside Rory McIlroy after the Northern Irishman made up three shots on his American rival. Spieth looked to be running away with the tournament in exactly the same manner as 12 months ago...
Written by Rob McGarr on Saturday 9 April 2016
25 years after his famous Masters triumph, Ian Woosnam says he’s calling it a day. “I am in pain all the way round so it’s time to say bye-bye really,” said the 58-year-old, the only Welshman ever to win a green jacket. “There’s not much they can do. I have ankylosing spondylitis and I can’t play with all the slopes here. I was swinging...
Written by Rob McGarr on Monday 4 April 2016
The standout hero on the Sunday of the Shell Houston Open was undoubtedly Jim Herman. The 38-year-old surprised everyone to beat a stellar field and secure his maiden PGA Tour victory. But we want to talk about Colt Knost. The 30-year-old American was 12 shots off the lead going into the final round of the Shell Houston Open. With an odd...
Written by Rob McGarr on Friday 8 April 2016
They say that nothing is decided during round one of the Masters, and whilst that is likely true, it’s a day filled with drama nonetheless. There was Ernie Els taking seven putts from six feet on the first hole, on his way to a 10, the worst score ever recorded on the opening hole of the Masters There was defending champion Spieth,...
Thursday 7 April 2016
Spieth takes early Masters lead Reigning champion Jordan Spieth took up where he left off last April with a commanding opening round at the 2016 Masters. The American birdied the last for a six-under 66 to banish thoughts of his indifferent form this season to date with an authoritative statement of intent to the rest of the field. Shane Lowry of...
Written by Rob McGarr on Thursday 7 April 2016
It’s genuinely the stuff of golfing nightmares. You’re playing in the Masters, with thousands in the crowds and millions more watching on television at home. It’s taken you three shots to reach the green, but at least you’re only two feet from the hole. Hole this, escape with a par and you’re golden. But then the putt slips by, leaving another...
Written by Rob McGarr on Thursday 7 April 2016
Who’s the favourite to win the Masters this year? Technically, the answer is Jason Day, priced at around 7/1 with most bookmakers. But the real answer is that there isn’t one. This year, perhaps for the first time ever, there is no discernible favourite to be picked from the field. “I don’t think that’s been the case in a major championship for a...
Written by Rob McGarr on Thursday 7 April 2016
The annual Par-3 Contest is a fun part of the Masters. It’s a chance for players to interact with fans, free from the pressure they’ll be under from Thursday to Sunday. It features a host of celebrities, helping showcase golf to a wider audience. And it tends to feature an exciting mix of holes-in-one and outrageous scores, as the world’s...
Written by Rob McGarr on Wednesday 6 April 2016
No European has won the Masters since Jose Maria Olazabal way back in 1999. Should Rory McIlroy end Europe’s 17-year wait for a green jacket, he’ll also complete the career grand slam, adding the Masters to his US Open, Open Championship, and pair of PGA Championship titles. Two-time Masters champ Tom Watson knows what it’s like to be one major short...
Written by Rob McGarr on Tuesday 5 April 2016
The start of the 2016 Masters is so close we can almost taste it. Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus will start proceedings at 8.05am local time, which is 1.05pm in the UK. Sadly, they won’t be joined by Arnold Palmer, whose continued recovery from a shoulder injury will prevent him from hitting the ceremonial tee shot. Then, once Gary Player has entertained...
Written by Rob McGarr on Tuesday 5 April 2016
There are people saying that Rory McIlroy has no chance of winning the Masters this year. His naysayers are pointing to his recent struggles on the green, and a new putting grip he’s still getting used to, suggesting the world number three is in no fit shape to tackle the notoriously tricky greens of Augusta National. Whether or not they have...
Written by Michael Catling on Monday 4 April 2016
Get the TV on standby and your local takeaway on speed dial. Masters week is finally here, which also means the start of Fantasy Golf for a sixth season. We’ve revamped the format and secured another set of top prizes, including trips to Mallorca, Sicily, La Manga and Belek. Excited? You should be. The team of the month will also win...