Rory McIlroy and Caroline Wozniacki engaged

Sports stars Rory McIlroy and Caroline Wozniacki have announced their engagement.

 

The couple spread their happy news via Twitter, with the duo posting matching pictures of themselves with a ring.

 

Northern Irish golfer and current world number six McIlroy told his more than 1.8 million followers: "Happy New Year everyone! I have a feeling it's going to be a great year!! My first victory of 2014 #shesaidyes!!"

 

Danish tennis player Wozniacki, who is also in her sport's top 10, also took to Twitter, saying: "Happy New Year everyone! Rory and I started 2014 with a bang! ... I said YES!!!!"

 

Wozniacki, 23, pulled out of this week's Brisbane International with an injured right shoulder but is confident she will be able to play in this week's Sydney International in preparation for the first major of the year, the Australian Open which begins on January 13 in Melbourne.

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Sky Sports News club golf survey reveals slow play main concern

 

Slow play and declining memberships are the main causes of concern among golf clubs in the UK, according to a Sky Sports News survey.

 

Over 250 British clubs took part in the poll, which revealed that slow play was the biggest talking point in the 19th hole.

 

An overwhelming 94% of clubs admitted that the average round is taking too much time, while 91% insist the problem could be eased if golf's governing bodies took firmer action against professionals guilty of slow play.

 

Five-hour rounds are common on the European and PGA Tours these days, and club golfers believe heavier and more frequent punishment for the pros would speed up the pace of play around the local municipals.

 

After a year in which a ban on anchored putting was agreed by the R&A and the PGA Tour, only 8% of clubs said this was a bigger cause of concern than slow play.

"A lot of the juniors who are watching golf are picking up bad habits after seeing us taking our time. It's down to the intricacies of the rules or people not being ready when it's their turn ... it's a reasonably big problem in the game."
Luke Donald

Another worrying trend is the decline in club membership, with 70% of clubs reporting that subscriptions have decreased over the last five years.

 

Only 1% said their dominant membership group was in the 31-40 bracket, and youth membership has also taken an alarming dive despite 76% of clubs having a youth scheme in place.

 

Female membership has been hit even harder, with a 75% drop according to the survey.

 

Despite the declining numbers, 52% of clubs believe they are getting enough assistance from golf's ruling bodies, although non-major tournaments appear to have little impact on club business.

 

The Open Championship (21%) and the Masters (29%) are known to have a "significant" effect on revenue, but regular European Tour events staged in the UK rarely boost club coffers.

 

The other main cost to British golf clubs is, of course, the weather. Adverse conditions have cost 37% of clubs more the 31 days of business over the last three years, although 22% have lost less than a fortnight.

 

Sky Sports News golf survey - the key points

- 254 respondents
- 70% say membership down over past 5 years
- 81% say 51+ is predominant membership demographic
- Only 1% say 31-40 is dominant membership group
- 75% say female membership has dropped over past 5 years
- 60% have seen a drop in youth membership numbers over past 5 years
- 64% say success of British players on Tour makes no impact on their business
- 21% says Open Championship has significant impact on business
- 29% say The Masters has significant impact on business.
- 61% say another UK Tour event would have no impact on business
- 34% say another UK Tour event would have a small impact on business
- 2% say another UK Tour event would have a significant impact on business
- 52% say biggest selling club in pro shop is the driver
- 39% say most popular club brand is TaylorMade
- 20% say most popular club brand is Ping
- 82% say most popular ball brand is Titleist
- 94% say slow play is problem at club level
- 91% say problem would be eased if Tour dealt more effectively with slow play
- 92% says biggest talking point in club this year is slow play while only 8% says anchored putting
- 37% say they've lost more than 31 days of business due to bad weather in past 3 years
- 34% say they've lost 15-31 days of business due to bad weather in past 3 years
- 22% say they've lost 8-14 days of business due to bad weather in past 3 years.

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Luke Donald warns against slow play

 

Luke Donald has warned that slow play on the European Tour could have a negative impact on youngsters playing golf at club level.

 

Sky Sports News has undertaken a survey of clubs across the UK and Ireland and found that the issue is one that frustrates amateurs more than any other.

 

In the survey, 94% of clubs said it was a problem whilst 92% thought it was a bigger talking point than the ban on anchored putters.

"It used to be that golf was a half-day activity. You could have breakfast with the family and be back home for lunch. But now it seems to have expanded into something that take up two thirds of the day and I think it's having a negative effect on participation - it needs speeding up."   
Peter Dawson

"A lot of the juniors who are watching golf are picking up bad habits after seeing us taking our time," said Donald.

 

"It's down to the intricacies of the rules or people not being ready when it's their turn - there are so many different factors but unfortunately it's a reasonably big problem in the game.

 

Nicolas Colsaerts agrees: "Something needs to be done," he said. "Most of the time you end up playing for over five hours and that's not good enough."

 

However, European Tour Chief Executive George O'Grady believes the game's governing bodies are taking adequate steps to combat the problem.

Leadership

"I think the Tours take really good leadership - certainly the European Tour does. Last time I checked - at the end of the year - we'd had 400 different cases of players being timed and 12 penalties imposed."

 

But the bodies that help regulate the amateur game see slow play as a major problem to attracting new players into the game.

 

"The people we want to get to haven't got four hours going spare and therefore we do have to have a two hour version of the game," said England Golf Chief Executive David Joy. "It would be great to have a nine hole format that people could choose to play in."

 

"It used to be that golf was a half-day activity," added R&A Chief Executive Peter Dawson. "You could have breakfast with the family and be back home for lunch.

 

"But now it seems to have expanded into something that take up two thirds of the day and I think it's having a negative effect on participation - it needs speeding up."

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Solheim Cup star Charley Hull is keen to progress further in 2014

 

Charley Hull may have enjoyed arguably the greatest year of her life but she is keen to progress even further in 2014.

 

The 17-year-old from Kettering was named Ladies European Tour (LET) rookie of the year and played a key role in helping Europe win the Solheim Cup on American soil for the first time ever.

 

Hull became the youngest player to compete in the tournament, the women's equivalent of the Ryder Cup, beating Paula Creamer 5 & 4 in the singles.

 

But she has set her sights high and after finishing second in her first five tournaments since turning professional in March, she is keen to become the top-ranked player in the world during her career.

 

"It was a great season and I loved every minute of it. Looking back on it now, I couldn't wish for a better rookie season," she told Sportsline on Sky News.

 

"Beating Paula Creamer on the final day was fantastic as I have looked up to her for years. To beat one of the most famous names in golf was pretty awesome.

 

"I didn't feel very well when I played her but I just went out and played really well."

 

Hull was offered the chance to work with England Golf but opted instead to stick with her own coaching and support team, a move she feels has paid dividends.

 

"I was always an individual player. I've never been into big team sports, even though it was awesome in the Solheim," she added.

 

"Golf is an individual sport and I (would) have to have their coaches. I have done so well with the coaches I have had, so why change?

 

"That was the route I chose to go and it has done me pretty well."

 

Hull also confirmed she will look to play some tournaments on the American LPGA Tour after impressing during the Solheim Cup but has no immediate plans to move to the USA.

 

"I am going to play on some invites on the LPGA and then play LET as well," she said.

 

"I feel I am too young to go over there at the moment. I still want to enjoy going out with my friends, so I don't want to move over there yet.

 

"I think I have balanced it out well and you have to enjoy life."

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Golf: Tiger Woods, despited limited schedule, racks up world ranking points

Along with wins, money and scoring average, another way to measure the strength of a golf season is total world ranking points. Tiger Woods won that category, too, but just barely over Henrik Stenson. A closer look reveals it wasn't really that close.

 

Woods earned 488.75 points this year, only 3.65 ahead of Stenson. Masters champion Adam Scott was third, more than 100 points behind.

 

The difference, though, is Woods played only 19 tournaments that awarded ranking points. Stenson played 31. Woods averaged 25.7 points for every event he played, compared with 15.6 for Stenson.

 

This is nothing new for Woods. He tends to play the toughest courses against the strongest fields. He also helps to make the field strong as the No. 1 player in the world. And while he doesn't play often, he plays well when he does tee it up.

 

"Most of my events I play have been on the more difficult venues and against the better fields," Woods said this month. "And now that we have not just the majors and The Players, but we also have the World Golf Championships ... and also the playoffs at the end of the year, you're getting the top players to play together more often. And I'm very proud of my overall record, especially in the bigger events."

• The PGA Tour already alters the pairings to create marquee groups for the opening two rounds. Now it's letting the fans get involved. In voting that will end Monday, fans can go to the tour's website (pgatour.com) to vote who should be paired with defending champion Dustin Johnson at Kapalua for the Tournament of Champions that starts Jan. 3 in Hawaii. The choices are Scott, Matt Kuchar and Brandt Snedeker.
• Darren Clarke has a three-year deal to be the pro and global ambassador at The Astbury in Shropshire, England. It's the first course designed by KK Downing, founding member of the heavy metal band Judas Priest. 
•  LPGA Tour regular Cristie Kerr became a mother Dec. 8. Kerr and husband Erik Stevens had Mason Kerr Stevens through surrogacy because of what she said were "personal medical complications precluding us from traditional pregnancy. We'd like to send out a special thanks to all the people who helped make this miracle happen."

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Golf in December: Definitely not par for course

Two weeks ago, you were knee deep in snow and planning for a white Christmas.

 

Today, you can crack open that box of Titleists you found under the tree and play 18.

 

The year of the wild weather has taken another unpredictable twist, bringing Friday temperatures in the high-40s across the area and the possibility of a balmy 50 today. That means — for at least one day — it's game on at the local links.

 

"They come out like crazy," said Justin Burrell, assistant manager at the UI Golf Course, "because they have that itch."

 

Of the 10 18-hole public courses in the area, eight confirmed Friday that they'll open their fairways and greens for business this morning. Three of the eight will even let you drive a cart. "As hard as the grounds are, carts can't do any damage," said Harrison Park superintendent Brock Burton.

 

Even Rantoul's Willow Pond will welcome golfers today, weeks into a major renovation. Just be sure to avoid the clubhouse — or what used to be the clubhouse.

"It's a cloud of dust," general manager Kipp Bates said.

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Maiden Golf Awards Held In Accra

Dr Frimpong president of Ghana Golf Association has disclose to news men that come the next Olympic games , Ghana will participate and battle for medals in golf games , as golf now has officially been included in the Olympics games . The maiden golf awards ceremony was also attended by the the Okyehene, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori who noted that Golf is a fair, transparent and honest sport with massive potential to inspire integrity and good leadership, therefore it’s ideal for African leaders to take up and play because it can help promote and inspire good leadership on the continent,

“A game of integrity and of truth, golf is a gentleman’s game without a doubt. A game in which one player goes unto the field all alone, plays and comes back to report that I played seven on that hole and eight on another,” the King of the Akyem people said in his closing remarks as Chairman of the first ever Ghana Golf Awards.

Okyehene added at the lavish ceremony staged at the Events Haven of the Ghana International Trade Fair Centre at La in Accra on Sunday night, December 22, 2013: “Golf speaks to the inner core of integrity. African leaders should play golf and I can assure you if they pick it up, our continent will be a better place.”

Organised by Primeval Ghana, the maiden Gold Awards in this country rewarded the best performers in the year under review and promises to make it a norm for the foreseeable future, all in the bid to entrench golf as a sport worth patronizing by Ghanaians.

Present as guest of honour to witness the recognition of top golfers nationwide was the Minister of Sports, Hon. Elvis Afriyie Ankrah who graced the occasion with his wife and pledged to soon begin playing the sport he envisages as one that can help sustain long life and prosperity.

“There is a misconception about golf and I must admit I was one of them but ever since I’ve been interacting with the Ghana Golf Association and even tonight, I’ve learnt a lot. I can boldly tell you that I am a new convert who will be going to any of the golf courses one of these days and I will come with my wife because I think golf is the key to everlasting strength and youth,” Hon. Afriyie Ankrah stated.

In the event, Nana Bonsu of the Royal Golf Club, Kumasi was adjudged the golfer of the year whilst business tycoon, Sir Sam Jonah won the award for the of personality of the year award.

Other award winners included Elizabeth Captan (most promising golfer – female), Emmanuel Quarshie (most promising golfer – male), Herbertina Amezado (Junior golfer of the year – female), Enock Nyarko (Junior golfer of the year – male), Constance Awuni (most improved golfer – female) and Vincent Atila (most improved golfer – male).

Other winners were good old Ama Morgan (senior golfer of the year – female), Seidu Konate (senior golfer of the year – male), International golfer of the year – Daniel List, professional golfer of the year – Brave Mensah, Mona Captan (amateur golfer of the year – female) as well as Peter Amenyo (amateur golfer of the year – male).

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TOC Field at Kapalua Announced

Masters champion Adam Scott headlines the field for next week's Hyundai Tournament of Champions, the first PGA Tour event of 2014 -- although no longer the first event of the season.

 

The PGA Tour went to a wraparound schedule in October, which means the Tournament of Champions at the Kapalua Resort on Maui will be the seventh event of the 2013-14 season.

The format for the 72-hole tournament that begins on Jan. 3 remains the same -- only winners of official PGA Tour events during 2013 are eligible. There were 35 such winners, and 30 of them have signed up for the $5.7 million tournament.

 

As expected, both Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson will skip the event. Neither has played it in years, with Woods last competing in 2005 and Mickelson in '01.

 

Woods is expected to make his season debut next month at the Farmers Insurance Open. Mickelson already has committed to that event, as well as the week prior at a European Tour stop in Abu Dhabi.

 

FedEx Cup and Tour Championship winner Henrik Stenson is also taking a pass at Kapalua, as is U.S. Open champion Justin Rose and RBC Heritage winner Graeme McDowell. The latter three all had hectic schedules on the European Tour at the end of 2013.

 

The tournament boasts 13 first-time winners, including 2013 rookie of the year Jordan Spieth. Others competing are PGA champion Jason Dufner, Webb Simpson, Matt Kuchar, defending champion Dustin Johnson, Zach Johnson and Brandt Snedeker.

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Golf: Henrik Stenson is looking to break his major duck after a record-breaking year on tour

Henrik Stenson is looking to add a major title to his growing CV after a record-breaking year on both sides of the Atlantic.

 

The Swede dominated the sport from the summer, chalking up seven top 10s from his final nine events on his way to securing the Race To Dubai title and the FedEx Cup.

 

Stenson also topped up his bank balance to the tune of 1m euros with victory in the DP World Tour Championship at Dubai November but it his showing in the majors which gives him hope for the coming year.

 

Second to Phil Mickelson in The Open at Muirfield was followed by a third-placed showing at the USPGA and he believes he now has the game to see him break his duck in 2014.

 

"From the US Open onwards I was on a really, really good run," he told Sky Sports News.

 

"Obviously my game was in good shape but my attitude and state of mind was phenomenal and the success I have had is down to the mental state I was in over that period.

 

"But you have to have a good golf game to back it up as well, and it all came together for me in 2013.

 

"I took so many positives out of my second place at The Open and third at the US PGA and that is what I will be trying to build on for next year, try to up my game that little bit more to put myself right in the mix."

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Stenson Becomes Honorary Member of the PGA Sweden National

 

On the back of the finest season of his career, World Number Three Henrik Stenson has received Honorary Lifetime Membership of the PGA Sweden National.

After finishing runner-up behind Spaniard Sergio Garcia in the Thailand Golf Championship on the Asian Tour, Stenson flew home to his native Sweden to receive the award from Mats Paulsson and Henrik Treschow, respectively the co-owner and chairman of PGA Sweden National, in Malmo.

The Lake Course will host the €1.5 million Nordea Masters for the first time from May 29-June 1, 2014, when Finland’s Mikko Ilonen will defend his title.  

Stenson, who will begin the defence of his Race to Dubai crown in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship, said: “It’s a big honour – and now I don’t have to pay any green fees!

“Now that I’m a member of the club, the Nordea Masters will be even more fun, and it goes without saying that I’m aiming for victory.

“I’m obviously in a good position in the World Rankings after last season, but I’m always looking to improve and I’m already looking ahead to next year.”

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Royal Trophy: Europe produce stunning fightback to beat Asia at Dragon Lake GC

Jose Maria Olazabal mastermined another epic comeback as Europe beat Asia 8.5-7.5 to win the Royal Trophy.

 

Asia, the holders, needed to claim just three-and-a-half points from Sunday's eight singles matches to win the trophy again and extended their lead from 5-3 to 7-3 by winning the top two matches.

 

Kiradech Aphibarnrat beat Paul Lawrie 3&2 in the top match before fellow Thai Thongchai Jaidee defeated Stephen Gallacher 4-2.

 

But requiring just another point and a half from the final six matches at Dragon Lake Golf Club in Guangzhou, Asia were blown away as Olazabal's team produced a charge reminiscent of Europe's amazing comeback in the Ryder Cup at Medinah last year.

 

Marc Warren, David Howell, Thorbjorn Olesen, Bernd Wiesberger and Nicolas Colsaerts all scored victories while Alvaro Quiros added a half as Europe closed out a stunning 8.5-7.5 victory.

 

Warren fought back to beat Japan's Ryo Ishikawa with a par at the last, Olesen beat Wu Ashun 3&2, Howell edged Kim Hyung-sung one up and Wiesberger overcame Hiroyuki Fujita 3&2.

 

Kim had been three up on Howell heading to the 15th tee but lost four straight holes, the last with a three-putt.

 

Spain's Quiros also three-putted 18 to cost himself victory against South Korea's Kim Kyung-tae and that half meant the scores were tied at 7.5-7.5 with just one match still out on the course.

 

Colsaerts had a narrow one-up lead on Liang Wenchong after 16 and protected it by holing a tricky putt on 17.

 

Liang also made a tough putt to send the match down the last but it was Belgian Colsaerts who sealed victory with a brave up and down as his opponent three-putted.

 

"I want to thank these fantastic eight guys who did something extraordinary today," said a delighted Olazabal after recording his first success in the team matchplay event.

 

"To be honest, I had a few doubts, especially early in the round but what you did was extraordinary. Thank you very much for your contribution, for making things easy for me," the Spaniard told his team as he was presented with the trophy on the 18th green.

 

"I hope you all learned a little bit this week, especially the rookies.

"I really appreciate it, it means a lot to me. Thanks for your efforts."

 

Asia captain YE Yang said: "I congratulate Europe for an outstanding comeback. It was a great tournament but unfortunately a shocking loss for us.

 

"I never expected this because we were so far in front. The loss is a huge blow and a big surprise. Hopefully we'll learn from the mistakes we made and return stronger next year."

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Royal Trophy: Asia stay two points clear after Saturday fourballs are shared 2-2

Asia lead Europe 5-3 in the Royal Trophy after Saturday's fourballs in China were shared 2-2.

 

It means the holders, who won Friday's foursomes 3-1, need three-and-a-half points from Sunday's eight singles matches at the Dragon Lake Golf Club in Guangzhou, China to retain the trophy.

 

Asia were given the ideal start by Thai duo Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Thongchai Jaidee, who defeated Scots Paul Lawrie and Stephen Gallacher 2&1 to extend the lead to three.

 

Jose Maria Olazabal's Europe were on course to reduce the gap when England's David Howell and Scotland's Marc Warren headed to the 17th tee two-up on Chinese pair Liang Wen-chong and Wu Ashun.

 

But the Asian pair pulled out two closing birdies to snatch an unlikely half point to keep YE Yang's men in control of the contest.

 

Europe's only win of the day came via Austria's Bernd Wiesberger and Dane Thorbjorn Olesen.

 

They scored a 2&1 victory over Japanese pair Ryo Ishikawa and Hiroyuki Fujita to reduce the gap to two points again.

Ishikawa and Fujita had beaten Wiesberger and Spain's Alvaro Quiros 3&2 in Friday's foursomes but looked out of sorts this time.

 

The bottom match appeared to be going Asia's way with South Korean duo Kim Hyung-sung and Kim Kyung-tae sitting two-up with two to play against Quiros and Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts.

Vital half point

But, after winning 17, Quiros hit a fantastic shot from the trees on 18 to around five feet and, after consulting captain Olazabal about the line, rolled home the birdie putt. "I knew how crucial that was," he said.

 

Olazabal famously inspired Europe's Ryder Cup comeback at Medinah last year and hopes for a repeat performance. On that occasion, his team were four behind going into Sunday.

 

He said: "Getting a half in that last match has kept our hopes alive. If we have a solid start in the singles and put pressure on the Asian team then we can still turn it around."

 

Yang, meanwhile, is confident that his team can hang on and win the trophy back-to-back for the first time.

 

He said: "I'm a little disappointed with losing that final half a point and I was pretty nervous watching the last two matches. I hope we still have the momentum and that we can finish off the job in the singles."

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Asia move into 3-1 lead after opening day of foursomes competition at Royal Trophy

 

Asia moved into a 3-1 lead over Europe after the opening day of foursomes competition at the seventh edition of the Royal Trophy.

 

The two highest-ranked players on the Asian team, Thongchai Jaidee and Kiradech Aphibarnrat, set the tone for the hosts at the Dragon Lake Golf Club's Asian Games Course in China as they cruised to a 5&3 victory over Scottish duo Paul Lawrie and Stephen Gallacher.

The Thai pairing were always in control of the contest having moved four up through the opening six holes and wrapped up victory when Aphibarnrat rolled home a 35-foot putt for eagle at the 14th hole.

 

Ryo Ishikawa and Hiroyuki Fujita extended the home team's advantage with a 3&2 defeat of Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts and Austrian Bernd Wiesberger.

 

As in the top match, the Japanese duo made a fast start and were three up through four holes and then proceeded to hold their big-hitting opponents at bay.

 

Behind them, Koreans KT Kim and Kim Hyung-Sung combined in impressive fashion to secure a 4&2 victory over Spaniard Alvaro Quiros and Denmark's Thorbjorn Olesen.

Holed out

The highlight came early in the contest as Kim Hyung-Sung holed out from 150 yards at the fourth for an eagle and the home pairing did not let their opponents back into the match.

 

The only bright spot for Europe came in the bottom match as England's David Howell and Scotland's Marc Warren combined to claim a valuable point with a 2&1 success against Chinese duo Liang Wenchong and Wu Ashun.

 

All square through seven holes, momentum swung after Warren holed a remarkable bunker shot from a plugged lie at the par-five eighth and, after winning the next two holes, Europe ultimately eased to a much-needed triumph.

 

European captain Jose Maria Olazabal admitted it had been a disappointing start, stating: "It was a bad day for us. We didn't expect that start.

 

"Now we have to be spot-on for the last two days - and that's our goal. We have to play aggressively and go for it. We do not have much room to manoeuvre."

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YE Yang explains decision to drop himself from Asian team for Royal Trophy

 

Asia captain YE Yang has defended his decision to leave himself out of his team for this week's Royal Trophy against Europe.

 

The South Korean was Asia's hero last year, partnering compatriot KT Kim to victory in a tense play-off after the teams had finished level at 8-8.

 

The former PGA champion was set to be a playing captain this year, but he believes his form over the past 12 months has not been good enough to justify a place ahead of plenty of in-form Asian players.

 

"When I was first offered the Royal Trophy captaincy the idea was that I would also play in the competition as well," said Yang, who remains the only Asian golfer to lift a major title.

 

"I wanted to play. But I quickly realised that there so many players who were playing better than me that I had to give up my spot on the team. I could not be greedy about it.

 

"It was not an easy decision to take, but I suppose the positive side of it is that it underlines that Asian golf is getting stronger and stronger all the time. And the Royal Trophy deserves a huge amount of credit for that.

 

"The Royal Trophy's influence can be seen in the way Asian players perform with greater confidence on the world stage, something that is definitely reflected in their results.

 

"It has given us an added focus as well as exposing out players to white-hot competition against some of the best golfers in the game. That is why the competition should be revered and respected by everyone.

 

"I would even go so far as to say the Asian victory last year was in some ways just as important as me becoming the first Asian golfer to win a Major title at the 2009 PGA Championship.

 

"I think both wins were very significant for Asian golf, and in their different ways they were equally important.

 

"One proved that Asian golfers could stand shoulder to shoulder with the best golfers in the world and win major championships. For me to go head to head with Tiger Woods in the final round and come out on top sent a very positive to every golfer on our continent.

 

"And last year's Royal Trophy victory showed that as a team, we in Asia could prevail under the most intense pressure. We emerged triumphant when the situation was incredibly tense, and incredibly tight."

 

Yang is now intent on relaying his experience of match play to the younger members of his team as he bids to deny European captain Jose Maria Olazabal his first victory in the event.

Yang added: "I have a lot of experience of match play, and I felt it would be best to concentrate on trying to use that experience to guide them and to try to help the players repeat the success of last year.

 

"I thought it would be a good experience for me to move up the ladder and just do the captaincy. I want to bestow some of my knowledge on the younger players in the team.

 

"There is also a big difference between stroke and a team match play event. In stoke play you need to play the course and the elements, and you need to be very strategic in how you control your game throughout the whole 18 holes."

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Jose Maria Olazabal backs Europe to overpower Asia at Royal Trophy

 

Jose Maria Olazabal is determined to complete a captaincy treble this week as Europe take on Asia in the Royal Trophy.

 

The Spaniard was at the helm for the Ryder Cup "Miracle at Medinah" last year, and he was also the winning captain in the Seve Trophy in October.

 

But his two stints as Royal Trophy skipper have both ended in defeat, and he has warned Asian counterpart YE Yang to expect a backlash at Dragon Lake in China.

 

Olazabal said: "I regard not winning the Royal Trophy so far as a blot on my record as a captain, and I serve notice to the Asian captain, YE Yang, and his players that I do not intend to allow this state of affairs to continue.

 

"I take the captaincy very seriously whatever the event, and the Royal Trophy is very special to me because my dear friend Seve Ballesteros asked me to take over from him as the team leader in 2009 when he became too ill to travel to Asia.

 

"He was a winning captain in the first two editions of the Royal Trophy of course, and if you can follow in Seve's footsteps at anything it can only be a good thing.

 

"To lose in a play-off last year was tough to take, but in those situations someone is always going to be overjoyed, while the opposition will have to handle bitter disappointment.

 

"But back home we have a saying which goes: 'third time lucky'. And in a tight corner sometimes you need that little bit of luck to go your way. So if it goes down to the wire again, maybe it will be our turn to celebrate."

 

Olazabal believes his big hitters will have a huge advantage at Dragon Lake, and backed the likes of Nicolas Colsaerts, Alvaro Quiros, Bernd Wiesberger and Stephen Gallacher to prosper.

 

But he has also solidified his team with plenty of experience, and he insisted Europe have the right balance to overcome Asia this year.

 

"It may look like I am putting all my eggs in one basket by going for monster hitters, but that is most definitely not the case," he said.

 

"I have also sought to select players with recent experience of team match play, and Paul Lawrie, Marc Warren, Nicolas Colsaerts, Stephen Gallacher, and Thorbjorn Olesen all fall into that category.

 

"In addition, David Howell is a two-time Ryder Cup winner while Alvaro Quiros and Bernd Wiesberger are players I believe will play in the Ryder Cup before too long.

 

"But at the same time, it certainly does not do any harm to have so many big hitters. If you can add accuracy to raw power, it is a great combination.

 

"I am told most, if not all, the par fives at Dragon Lake Golf Club will be reachable in two shots for the majority of the field.

 

"If that is the case I believe several of my players will be able to hit their approaches with mid-irons rather than fairway woods, and you will always have a better chance of making birdie or eagle that way.

 

"I think we could see some spectacular scoring this week, and I am confident I have a team full of players who are very capable of shooting low scores.

 

"I genuinely hope that both teams serve up a real birdie bonanza this week - as long as we make one or two more than the Asians, and it does not go down to another play-off.

 

"After Medinah and what happened in last year's dramatic Royal Trophy, I don't think my heart could take much more of it!".

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Henrik Stenson has been named the European Tour Golfer of the Year

Swedish star Henrik Stenson has been named the European Tour Golfer of the Year for 2013 after capturing the major money titles on both sides of the Atlantic.

 

Stenson capped a memorable comeback year by winning the season-ending DP World Tour Championship to clinch the Race to Dubai title having already banked a $10m bonus in the United States with victory in the FedEx Cup.

 

Henrik Stenson

• Age: 37
• Professional wins: 16
• Current Ranking: 3rd
• Had been as low as 230 in rankings at start of 2012
• Finished 2nd at the Open & 3rd in USPGA
• Won Deutsche Bank Championship in September
• Won Tour Championship & FedEx Cup
• Won World Tour Ch'ship & Race To Dubai

Stenson's achievements were remarkable considering he was ranked only 230th in the world at the start of 2012.

 

The Swede made encouraging progress last year before igniting a surge up the world rankings with victory at the South African Open, breaking a five-year title drought on the European Tour.

 

The 37-year-old was a model of consistency over the first half of 2013, posting three top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour while finishing 18th at the Masters and 21st in the US Open.

Hot summer

But he was the hottest player in the world from July onwards, starting a sparkling run of form with a third-place finish at the Scottish Open.

He was runner up to Phil Mickelson at the Open Championship and was also second at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational before finishing third in the PGA Championship.

Stenson then won twice during the FedEx Cup play-offs, including a dominant victory in the Tour Championship which secured the overall title.

Famous faces praise Henrik

Returning to the European Tour, he struggled with a wrist problem over the first two events of the inaugural Finals Series before cementing his place at the top of the Race to Dubai with a seventh place in Turkey.

 

He was in a class of his own during the season finale in Dubai, closing with his second 64 of the week to cruise to a six-shot victory and become the first player to win the FedEx Cup and the Race to Dubai in the same season.

Honour

"It's a big honour to be voted the European Tour Golfer of the Year," Stenson said. "It just reflects the stellar year I have had.

"You can call it a dream season, year of my life, whatever you want. It has been an unbelievable year and I am delighted to win this award, especially as I am the first Swede to do so.

 

"You look at the past winners of this award and most of the greats of European golf are on there, which just adds to the prestige of winning it. To win the FedEx Cup and the American Tour Championship in some style and then follow that by taking The Race to Dubai was very special.

Butch looks at Stenson's swing

"Winning the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, where I had made my home for 10 years, in the style I won it, in front of so many family and friends, was something I will never forget.

 

"I'm not sure how I top it to be honest. I am not sure many people will get the chance to do what I did this year but I just need to keep working hard and pushing forward.

 

"The majors are the biggest goal for me now and if I can continue to play at the level I have been then I feel I can have a pretty good shot at them."

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Abu Dhabi Golf Championship: Henrik Stenson to make 2014 bow in tournament

The world No 3 has a great record in the United Arab Emirates having won the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai last month as well as the 2006 Qatar Masters and the 2007 Dubai Desert Classic.

 

"2013 finished on a high in the UAE and it would be great if 2014 started on a high in the UAE," said the Swede.

 

"The country was a fantastic home for us for eight years and I've always enjoyed playing here."

 

Stenson finished as the runner-up in the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship in 2006 - one shot behind Chris DiMarco - and tied for second alongside Lee Westwood in 2008, albeit four shots behind the winner Martin Kaymer.

Tougher

"There's a falcon-sized gap in my trophy cabinet that I'd dearly love to fill," Stenson added.

 

"Not just because of the 2006 and 2008 near-misses but so I can become the first player to complete the sweep of Gulf titles.

 

"The National course gets a bit tougher each year and the Championship has become one of the most coveted on the Tour, so it would be great to tee off the season in style here."

 

The Abu Dhabi field is also set to include Open champion Phil Mickelson, US Open champion Justin Rose, two-time major winner Rory McIlroy, former world No 1 Luke Donald, Kaymer, Matteo Manassero, Sergio Garcia, and Jamie Donaldson.

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France's Victor Dubuisson secures Masters place for first time in career

The Frenchman is one of 14 non-qualified players to secure a place in the year's first major championship after the final Official World Golf Rankings of the season were published.

 

Dubuisson hit form with a vengeance at the end of the 2013 season which included his first European Tour title at the Turkish Airlines Open in November.

 

He went on to finish third behind Henrik Stenson in the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai and his results were enough to finish the year 32nd in the world, more than enough for one of the places at Augusta guaranteed for players in the top 50.

 

Dubuisson has only qualified for one major in his career so far, the 2010 Open Championship which he played in as an amateur just before turning professional.

 

As well as Dubuisson, Hideki Matsuyama, Thomas Bjorn, Jamie Donaldson, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Francesco Molinari, Rickie Fowler, Matteo Manassero, David Lynn, Thongchai Jaidee, Peter Hanson, Joost Luiten and Branden Grace also secured their invites.

 

The field for The Masters already sits at 90 players, raising the possibility of more than 100 players participating for the first time in nearly 50 years - 103 took part in 1966.

 

Players who are not already qualified can do so by winning one of the early season PGA Tour events (not the Puerto Rico Open) or being in the top 50 at the end of March, a week before the event takes place.

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Henrik Stenson and Justin Rose leading candidates for European Tour award

Stenson capped a memorable comeback year by winning the season-ending DP World Tour Championship to clinch the Race to Dubai title having already banked a $10m bonus with victory in the FedExCup.

 

Rose lifted only one trophy this year, but that was the US Open title at Merion where he became the first Englishman to win the tournament since Tony Jacklin in 1970.

 

Stenson's achievements were remarkable considering he was ranked only 230th in the world at the start of 2012.

 

The Swede made encouraging progress last year before igniting a surge up the world rankings with victory at the South African Open, breaking a five-year title drought on the European Tour.

 

The 37-year-old was a model of consistency over the first half of 2013, posting three top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour while finishing 18th at the Masters and 21st in the US Open.

 

But he was the hottest player in the world from July onwards, starting a sparkling run of form with a third place finish at the Scottish Open.

 

He was runner up to Phil Mickelson at the Open Championship and was also second at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational before finishing third in the PGA Championship.

 

Stenson then won twice during the FedExCup play-offs, including a dominant victory in the Tour Championship which secured the overall title.

 

Returning to the European Tour, he struggled with a wrist problem over the first two events of the inaugural Finals Series before cementing his place at the top of the Race to Dubai with a seventh place in Turkey.

 

He was in a class of his own during the season finale in Dubai, closing with his second 64 of the week to cruise to a six-shot victory and become the first player to win the FedExCup and the Race to Dubai in the same season.

 

Stenson's exploits lifted him to third in the world rankings, one ahead of Rose.

The Englishman finally fulfilled the huge potential he had shown as an amateur, winning his first major championship in some style over a brutally tough Merion layout.

 

He jostled for the lead with Mickelson over the closing stages of the final round, and the Englishman arrived on the 18th tee armed with a one-shot lead.

 

The challenge ahead was a daunting 511-yard uphill par four with an elevated green, but Rose displayed commendable composure as he split the fairway with his drive before drilling a stunning four-iron approach which grazed the cup and nestled in the rear fringe.

Rose calmly lagged to inches and tapped in for one of the best pars of his career, and he was crowned champion moments later when Mickelson failed to become the first player to birdie 18 over the entire weekend.

 

The 33-year-old remained in contention for the Race to Dubai title after top-five finishes in China and Turkey, but he missed out on a second Order of Merit crown after trailing home 12 shots behind Stenson in Dubai.

 

Rose had to settle for third in the Race to Dubai, but his magnificent performance at Merion earned him a place in the history of English golf.

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Bernard and Lesley Gallacher launch heart awareness campaign

The former Ryder Cup captain suffered a cardiac arrest during a function at the Marcliffe Hotel in Aberdeen in August.

The 64-year-old insists he owes his life to the quick treatment he received after collapsing, which included the use of a defibrillator that had been installed at the hotel.

Gallacher and his wife Lesley have now launched a major campaign to raise awareness of the need to have defibrillators close to hand in a bid to increase the percentage of survivors of cardiac arrest.

He also compared his life-threatening incident to that of former Bolton footballer Fabrice Muamba, who was fortunate to survive a cardiac arrest during an FA Cup clash with Tottenham at White Hart Lane in March 2012.

"The problem with cardiac arrest is that you always feel fine - that's the danger," said Gallacher, whose campaign has been backed by the Arrhythmia Alliance and the British Heart Foundation.

"If you have a heart attack, there's usually pain associated with it and the warning signs are there.

"But there are no warning signs with a cardiac arrest. There were no warning signs when Fabrice Muamba collapsed on the football field. He, like me, was very lucky there were people around that saved his life and my life.

"My wife Lesley has been the driving force behind this campaign. She was told what happened at the Marcliffe Hotel in Aberdeen, where a defibrillator was quickly in evidence and I was given treatment, just like Fabrice Muamba.

"That's why we're anxious to get defibrillators into golf courses. A golf club is a good place because you have young, middle-aged and older people playing golf and it can attack at any age."

Education

Lesley Gallacher added that more should be done to educate people on how to treat victims of cardiac arrest and heart attacks as she reflected on almost losing her husband.

"We're on a mission," she said. "There's no excuse for not having a defibrillator. They're not terribly expensive and it would make such a difference to save somebody's life as we've seen.

"What I have learned is the lack of knowledge there is out there, as well as learning the difference between a heart attack and cardiac arrest.

As we look back at last week's golf

                   

"People can make a difference, you can't do any harm by using a defibrillator. Also, CPR is something we should all know how to do."

Bernard added: "Around 100,000 people die of cardiac arrest every year, only one in 10 survive an attack and I'm one of the one in 10. If we can get more defibrillators out there and an awareness campaign then we can definitely save lives. That's what it's all about - saving lives.

"I actually owe my life to a man called Colin Laden, who is here at Wentworth for the launch. He quickly realised what was happening to me and started CPR on my chest. He asked for a defibrillator to be brought in, and he kept me going until the ambulance arrived.

"The more awareness we can raise, the more lives we can save. Hopefully we can get that percentage up from one in 10. It would be nice to get it up to 50 percent.

"We're trying to link the campaign to competitions within the clubs, with the entrance fee going towards a fund to buy a defibrillator.

"We're also linking it in with some Ryder Cup tickets and other prizes as well, so there's a big incentive to join this campaign and try and get these defibrillators into the clubs."

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