On Par - All about golf in Australia

Skiing on Buller


Originally uploaded by Doogsta

MCG 3qtr time hawks up, Sam asleep


Originally uploaded by Doogsta

Been a big day for the birthday boy, hawks 12.11 to pies 6.13

Somewhere over the…..


Originally uploaded by Doogsta

Alas Greg Norman didnt complete the fairytale finish and win the 2008 British Open. I committed to the late night and with suitable snacks followed The Shark through the first nine holes as he battled Padraig Harrington and the Scottish conditions. By the turn, it wasnt looking good, though he was still in the hunt. I had started to flick across to the enticing Tour de France as Cadel Evans tried to maintain the Mayeaux Jeune in the Alps.

By the 13th hole i was starting to fade as was the Shark, Harrington had found the fairway, Norman had hit into a fairway trap, the dream wasnt going to happen. Harrington went on to hit a supreme shot into 17 for an eagle to sew up his second British Open, and well deserved. I was astounded by some of the media branding Norman as a choker again. Easy on fella’s, the guy is in his 50s, doesnt play regular competition golf and was on the verge of one of historys most amazing sports stories ever.

In the final round Norman made some odd decisions, taking Driver on holes that Harrington was laying up with iron. You cant take the shark out of the Norman! Thanks Greg for providing, perhaps for the last time, that glimmer of hope and the late night anticipation of another Major Win. Well done Mr Norman!

Greg Norman won his second British Open 15 years ago, and was only playing in The Open to get a bit of practice for the Seniors British Open! The Shark is now a spritely 53 years old and leading the Open by two shots going into the final round.

Many hours of sleep have been lost over the years watching the exploits of Norman in final rounds of Major Championships, and most of them have ended in sorrow as Greg let the lead slip away or lost to a gut wrenching final hole chip in. Once again I will devote a few hours of sleep to watching the Old Shark go through his paces in the final round of a Major, it will be like old times, though hopefully its a Cinderella story, a fairytale finish and Greg add one more Major to his list.

GO GET ‘EM GREG, show those young whippersnappers what its all about.

Have been working on a ski widget for the visitvictoria.com website. The “Skidget” provides regularly updated snow conditions for all of the Victorian Snow resorts. And with the snow continuing to fall, fingers crossed that the season will be a good one. Skidget is easily shared across other sites, blogs and social networking sites like Facebook and Myspace.

Played the second round of the Herald Sun Matchplay today. Drawn to play Rick, we decided to play at his home club – Yarra Valley Country Club. My preparation was poor having only swung a club once since the last game. Yarra Valley is a small 9 hole course in Bulleen and as I quickly found out, is very tight and the track rating was Slow to Dead, which summed up my game.

Rick was also playing average golf so I actually found myself 2 up after 6 holes which rapidly came back to even par after I hacked the next 2 holes. The 9th was halved so we went to the turn even. Was having huge problems with the wet fairways, my fat shots were taking huge divots and trashing my approaches and chips. This saw me lose 10,11 and 12 and suddenly it was looking all over. I managed to win 13 and 14 to create a glimmer of hope, and give Rick something to think about, but after halving the 15th, my short game let me down and Rick won the 16th to go two up with two to play.

I had come from two down last round, but it wasnt to be and Rick took the game 3 and 1. The third year in a row that Ive been bundled out in the second round! Back to the driving range and a lesson with Wayne !

The world really is a wonderful place…..

The legend of Tiger Woods career inked another chapter last weekend as he played the final rounds, and an 18 hole playoff with Rocco Mediate in obvious pain thanks to a dodgy knee.  It wasnt until he had won on the first extra hole of the 18 hole playoff (the 91st hole!), that he revealed he was going straight in for surgery on his knee and would be out of action for the rest of the season.   A gutsy win
The title of World Greatest sportsperson is often thrown about, but Tiger has to be right up there.  Winning his 14th major and 89th career win puts him only 4 majors behind Jack Nicklaus.  Tiger tees up each week on his own, against 150 other players and must beat them all to win the title. He has taken the sport to another level and increased viewers and participants.   To the extent that players that win any of the titles for the rest of the year will probably feel a hollow victory considering Tiger will be watching from the sidelines.

Get back on the course as soon as possible Tiger, golf needs you!

The US Open goes to an 18 hole playoff, as Tiger holed a 72nd hole birdie putt to draw level with Rocco Mediate.  Tigers 3rd round heroics finishing with a chip in birdie then massive putt on the 18th were almost undone as he had a shocker opening to the final day.  Rocco held his nerve and held the clubhouse lead until Tigers final putt.  They now return tommorow for an 18 hole playoff, which is a total anticlimax, the sudden death playoff is much more dramatic and a better way to decide the championship.

Appleby had a shocker with a 79 in the 3rd round, including a 4 putt, then a 75 to fall to 10 shots off the leaders.  Ogilvy 74 and Appleby 75 both failed to get anything going in the final round.

So will Tigers dodgy knee hold up, will Rocco remain cool, will the playoff be decided by about the 10th hole and a procession from then?