Team Leaders tie the Knot! Food and Beverage Managers, Quintin and Madri, said their vows here last Saturday! What a difference they have made for us at St Francis Links… Now they have formed the perfect team in life! If Paul Casey can’t even make the team… The biggest golfing events of the year take place this weekend. Last Night’s Opening Ceremonies in Wales to formally open the 38th Ryder Cup can only be outdone by the singing of the anthems at this year’s LINKS CUP!

When Lee Westwood asked captain Monty whether he could lead the team in the four-ball matches, the European captain could only oblige his number one top ranked player. Pair him with PGA champion, Martin Kaymer, and the USA pairing of Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson will have to hope they can avoid the heavy rough (grown for them) and make lots of birdies. The Irish (McDowell and McIlroy) are paired together, as expected. I don’t think Stuart Cink and the in-form Matt Kouchar can handle the Irishmen. In the third match, Ian Poulter showed a rye smile as his captain announced that he and fellow Englishman, Ross Fisher would be playing against The TIGGER and his suited playing partner, Steve Stricker – beware of the wounded Tiger.

The final match of the morning pairs up American rookies Bubba Watson and Jeff Overton against veteran Padraig Harrington and Luke Donald. My call – 3-1 Europe… Ouch. When you consider the fact that the Americans are usually better at the fourball format, a European fast start could doom the boys in red, white and blue. As much as I support the South Africans in the Prez Cup, I cannot bring myself to routing for Monty (Mrs. Doubtfire).

The bottom line is the fact that the weather may play a big part in the outcome – rain in the UK (last’s a new twist). Let’s hope it comes down to great golf and not survival of the fittest.

The Links CUP will feature a side representing South Africa and another, whose roots are in Europe. There seems to be a number of new Irishmen (maybe because the anthem is easier to sing). We will kick off with foursomes in the morning, four-ball play in the afternoon and keep the format the same as the Ryder Cup will - singles on Sunday.

If you play golf, you gotta watch (the boys in Wales or the members here)! We’ll be playing the Ryder Cup all weekend – join us for both.

Els was elected with 66% of the vote on the PGA TOUR Ballot. Ford and Hutchison were selected in the Veterans Category and President Bush in the Lifetime Achievement Category.

PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem, who was on hand for the announcement at East Lake Golf Club where THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola begins today, said: “Each of the inductees richly deserves of this honor and on behalf of the World Golf Foundation Board, I look forward to welcoming them into the Hall of Fame next May.

“Ernie has compiled an extraordinarily successful international career and continues to compete at the highest level. It’s terrific that Doug Ford and Jock Hutchison’s careers will be highlighted in this way as both enjoyed great success in their professional careers. And, President Bush has been and continues to be a great friend to the game of golf; he’s a terrific addition to the Hall.”

Els, who is competing in this week’s final PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup finale, won the 1994 and 1997 US Open Championships and the 2002 Open Championship. He has 15 additional PGA TOUR victories, including two World Golf Championships events, and more than 40 international victories, many of which he won in South Africa and others in Europe and Australia.

He is currently ranked eighth in the FedExCup and holds the fourth position in the European Tour’s Race to Dubai. He is a six-time member of the International Team for The Presidents Cup.

Regards,
Jeff