Much is made of winning the Open Championship at the Old Course, St Andrews, and understandably so!

However, when it comes to achieving what has proved to be a task beyond even some of the greatest ever British players, winning the US Open, must surely rank as the most challenging test. Then add into the equation Pebble Beach, possibly America’s most celebrated golf course other than Augusta, where four of the best American golfers who have ever played the game, have been victorious in the past, and then the task is seemingly even greater. Add some not so encouraging facts; last Briton to win the US Open was Tony Jacklin at Hazeltine, and that was forty years ago; last Briton to win a Major was Paul Lawrie, and that was in 1999 at Carnoustie.

The man who has just managed this incredible feat is Graeme McDowell! He is the first Northern Irishman since Fred Daly in 1947 to win a Major. The Bug would like to congratulate him; we are particularly delighted because he has always supported us on www.golfbug.tv and is a charming easy going individual! His relaxed manner coming down the eighteenth last night, undoubtedly helped him conquer the pressure of history, and to elevate himself into the highest echelons of the sport.

Our prediction is that he will go from strength to strength, and challenge regularly for major trophies. It is also a very exciting time for Northern Ireland, as this victory will undoubtedly encourage his countryman, Rory McIllroy.

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It is June 14th 2010, the Monday following England’s first football match in the World Cup finals, where nothing happened that would suggest England will do better than in any other World Cup in recent times. We are also a week away from Wimbledon Tennis, where England’s consistent failure will continue, as there is not a single person that can even hope to get into the second week! The press are about to have a field day, as bad news is news, and there will be lots of that in the coming weeks!

However, one sport where England is performing to an outstanding level this year (and it is hardly getting a mention) is golf. English golfers, and there are many, are winning in Europe and in the US. Has there ever been a year, following Lee Westwood’s victory this weekend in the St. Jude Classic, where there have already been three English winners on the US Tour? Add the fact that Ian Poulter beat another Englishman, Paul Casey, in the final of the WGC Matchplay, then that, with Justin Rose, is a very impressive quartet of Englishmen performing to the highest level in the States.

It is no less impressive in Europe, with Luke Donald, Simon Khan, and James Morrison all early season winners.

Let’s also not forget about, Oliver Wilson, Nick Dougherty, Ross Fisher and Simon Dyson who are all proven winners! Chris Wood and Dan Willett are another two great talents, who look set to break through soon as well!!

With Chris Wood and Lee Westwood going so close last year, and so many others in such good form, an English victory at the Open, is a distinct possibility!

Perhaps it’s time to focus on a genuine success story, and give the English Golf Union some credit, for spotting and nurturing all this talent?

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Whilst the news of Tiger Woods’ recent ‘transgressions’, makes fascinating reading, what concerns the Bug the most is how this is going to affect his golf!

This very morning the tabloid newspapers are suggesting that wife Elin has presented Tiger with an ultimatum, ‘golf or me’. Hardly surprisingly the lady is not thinking clearly; waking up every morning to a new revelation of Tiger’s antics must be disconcerting to say the least, but Tiger giving up golf!!..you must be joking.

He has not powered his way to 14 majors and only 4 short of equalling the Golden Bear’s record, to suddenly become a full time family man. No, when the dust settles, which may be a while yet, he will resume his assault on his one main driving force, to go down in the record books as the best ever golfer.

However, there must now be doubt whether what once seemed an inevitability will now actual materialise. Winning one major is a fantastic feat in itself…ask Colin, Sergio, and Lee, and many outstanding golfers, including proven Major winners have taken a whole career to accumalate less.

Tiger’s flawless image is gone for good; when he next steps out on the fairway he will be a very different man, and he will be perceived in an entirely different way by golf fans and fellow pros alike. How this will effect his mental approach to the game will be very interesting; will his rivals feel less intimidated?

Add this to the fact that he has not won a Major since his knee operation, and you have a situation which must surely make the previously imperious Tiger begin to have doubts. The drama may only just have begun!

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In the words of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, just ‘who are these guys’ relentlessly chasing the big names of European golf all over the world with quite extraordinary success. Well, with modern day technology it is much easier for us to learn more about these gunslingers than in the days of the Wild West. There is no doubt though that the regularity with which these young upstarts are raiding the biggest tournaments and prize funds is leaving many bewildered, not least the established stars of the game.

As early as February, a young 18 year old amateur by the name of Danny Lee, stormed to victory down in Perth, Western Australia at the Johnnie Walker Classic no less! In March it was young Tano Goya from Argentina, and in April Irishman Michael Hoey, two hitherto little known professionals, deciding to plunder Portuguese territory with victories in the Madeira Island and Estoril Open’s respectively.

Quite extraordinarily, another amateur Shane Lowry won the Open of his homeland when he beat off the challenge of Robert Rock to take the Irish Open. He turned professional the very next day!

Frenchman Christian Cevaer again held off a group of players much higher in the rankings to par a brutally tough finishing hole at the London Club to win the European Open, another very big event!

And on Sunday, Jeppe Huldahl came from way off the radar to become the 7th Dane to win on tour, when he held off both Ignacio Garrido and Niclas Fasth to win the Celtic Manor Open on the 2010 Ryder Cup course.

Holding out for victory in tournaments of the calibre of those mentioned above, is no fluke, and whilst tournament sponsors are probably hoping for a big name to win, it will be fascinating to see whether any of the winners above can on to become the next big star.

It would also be very interesting to know what Colin Montgomerie is thinking; he is probably quite relaxed about his ‘names’ not featuring at present, but imagine if this trend is still occuring at this time next year. He might end up deciding an escape to Bolivia is his best bet!

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Little more than 4 days after our recent run in with Miguel Angel Jiminez, he is crowned the 2008 BMW PGA champion. The Bug was also right behind him on Five when a sweetly struck four-iron took only two bounces before diving into the hole for a hole-in-one! This feat took the Spaniard to an early lead at Wentworth this Sunday.

Coincidence you may say; the Bug thinks not!

The Bug’s good fortunes also rubbed off on Callaway player, Oliver Wilson. Oliver took to the 18th for the second time on Sunday to duel with Miguel one-on-one in a fierce sudden death playoff. Earlier in the week Oliver had met with the Bug for a short interview on the practise tee as well as having some swing-path footage filmed.

With the Celtic Manor Wales Open coming up in, Newport, Wales boasting a winner’s cheque of £1,800,000, Who will catch the Bug?!

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Sergio Garcia battled through winds, pressure and critics to lift the Players Championship title this Sunday. Sergio claimed the winner’s share of $1.6 million out of the total prize purse of $9.5 million! Perhaps more importantly, the young Spaniard has finally silenced recent criticism from the world press!

Sergio has come under fire over the last few years; this victory came 53 tournaments after his last Tour victory three years ago. Many people have criticized Sergio for his erratic, and sometimes amateurish, form with the putter. The relief of having this pressure lifted was evident at the press conference held after the prize ceremony. When asked what the best part about his playoff victory was, Garcia replied, “Not having to listen to you guys!” Go Sergio!

El Niño has been very defensive in the face of criticism of any aspect of his game. Unfortunately for Sergio, his 3rd round still accounted for 34 putts which left him three shots adrift going into the final day. This raised the possibility of another “C-word” (Choke!) ending for the Spaniard, which would have frustrated Sergio even more!

 However, Sergio was equal to the task and he played like a true Champion on Sunday. There was a slight wobble at the par-4 final hole, which was playing as the toughest of the day, where Sergio found a poor lie after his wayward tee shot drifted into the rough. He hacked his second shot to within 50 yards of the green after which a superb pitch to 7 feet set up a high pressure putt! Sergio confidently holed it to card a final-round 71 and force a playoff with Paul Goydos.

Goydos’s approach to the 17th’s treacherous island green fell short of the landing area and sank, along with his Championship dreams, to the bottom of the lake. Sergio’s tee shot found the heart of the green and a tap-in par putt saw El Nino crowned the Players Champion for 2008!

The Bug congratulates Garcia on a fine performance under immense pressure – Felicitaciones Sergio!

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Hennie Otto, the 32 year old South African, recorded his debut European Tour win this weekend, claiming the Italian Open. This win moves the tally up to three wins for the South African contingent, following victories by Richard Sterne, who took the co-sanctioned Johannesburg Open on the European Tour in January, and Trevor Immelman, winner of the US Masters last month.

Hennie fired a closing round 69 (3-under) to clinch victory over Britain’s Oliver Wilson. Otto’s 25-under tally of 263 was enough to stay one stroke clear of Wilson, who carded a superb bogey-free final round of 64 on the Castello di Tolcinasco course.

Otto seemed to have fallen into an all-too-familiar position after losing his five shot lead, at the beginning of the final day, by the 12th hole. Wilson drew level on the 12th but, unlike his previously-dismal attempt at a fighting 4th round at Madeira in March, Otto managed to sink a crowd-pleasing 20-foot birdie putt on the 433-yard 13th. It was this ship-stabilizing putt that set up a tournament-winning par on the final hole!

Big congratulations to Hennie from the Bug – let’s hope that one brings two!

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Sergio is currently the leader by two shots after posting an opening round of 66 (6 under) during the first round of The Players Championship. A familiar position for the world’s favourite Spaniard, after the first day in many of the past ‘major’ tournaments. The Bug thinks back to The Open last year which saw Sergio drop shots rapidly to Padraig Harrington, who ultimately beat El Nino in a play-off.

Commonly referred to as the 5^th Major, The Players Championship is boasting a total prize purse of $9 million, with the Champion claiming a staggering $1.62 million this year. With high reward comes high risk and TPC Sawgrass is renowned for one fabulous hole which demonstrates this perfectly.

As you may have guessed, the Bug is referring to the signature island green penultimate hole! The 17^th is playing 146 yards this year and the watery “maker-or-breaker” saw no fewer than 50 balls find the water in last year’s opening round alone. Paul Goydos was the first unfortunate victim of this year’s tournament. Ernie Els also managed to find the water, after dropping his pitch shot 20 yards short of the front edge! “We should blow it up,” The Big Easy taunted, “After 4½ hours of hard work, you can lose it all in one shot!”

All-in-all, this year’s Players Tournament looks set to entertain and strain both supporters and players alike. The Bug wishes Sergio all the best; it would be a shame if the crown of “Best Player who hasn’t won a Major” was to continue to haunt his career.

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Stuburt Golf has released their latest addition to the ever popular Darren Clarke Collection - the classic welted golf shoe. The team at Stuburt felt that a more traditional, hand crafted, leather welted footwear would fit well with the traditions of the Stuburt brand.

Their recent aim has targeted the process of taking the product on to new heights of excellence whilst bringing an exciting evolution to a wider audience.”I didn’t want to just put my name to the shoes, I have been involved from day one, from signing off the designs through to choosing the colour combinations, materials and testing the product,” boasted a thrilled Darren Clarke.

This new shoe has so many features that the Bug was surprised that it didn’t do the walking and talking for you on the golf course! These incredible features include a premium full grain, hand-crafted leather, upper designed (made famous by Big-D himself).The outer layers have a Dri-back plus full bootie membrane system. The real leather lining is complemented with a suede inner heel grip which prevents heel slippage. A shock absorbing heel pad is mounted on the polished wood heel. You even get individual soft cloth bags for each shoe!

The new Classic Welt range made its most recent appearance in the lime-light at the Asian Open earlier last month. The Bug likes the look of it – what are your thoughts?

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The 4th of May 2008 saw an end to a career long search for the illusive debut tour victory. Srixon Sports Europe are delighted to announce that Peter Lawrie the 34 year old Staff Player produced a fantastic victory this weekend in a dramatic play off at the 2008 Spanish Open at the Real Club de Golfe at Sevilla.

Peter’s closing round of 67 saw him tied after 72 holes with local favourite, Ignacio Garrido, on 15 under par. Fellow Srixon player Miguel Angel Jimenez was a further 2 strokes back. After sharing pars on the first hole, a spectacular fairway bunker shot with an 8 iron saw Lawrie find the heart of the green. Promise of a nail-biting finish was drowned when Garrido’s approach, which landed pin high, agonizingly spun back into the lake.

Like most of Srixon’s staff players, Lawrie uses the Srixon Z-URS ball and also their highly successful 701 Irons. This was Srixon’s 7th International victory this year. Peter a proud Irishmen from Dublin managed to shoot up the rankings by a staggering 76 places to 12th in the 2008 Order of Merit. His win also completed a hat-trick of victories in consecutive weeks for Irish Golfers on the European PGA Tour. Which makes the Bug think forward to the upcoming Irish Open and the possibility of having a second Irish winner in a row and only the second Irish victor in 24 years?

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