Korean Yang Unfazed By Major Attention At Hazeltine


Chaska, Minnesota (August 15): Korean Yang Yong-eun stands on the cusp of becoming the first golfer from Asia to win a Major championship. If he somehow gets the better of Tiger Woods on Sunday at the 91st US PGA Championship, it won’t be a surprise to Padraig Harrington. “When he won the HSBC Champions two years ago, down the stretch he went all the way against big-name players and he totally outplayed everybody,” said Harrington, who like Yang trails 54-hole leader Woods by two shots. “He’s a fine player when he’s in front.” Yang’s talent shone as brightly as his red trousers on Saturday. He went round in 67, the low score yielded by an unforgiving, 7,674-yard Hazeltine National. His card featured six birdies, including three in a row beginning at the 14th hole.

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Thongchai Survives The Cut - And Close Encounter With Paramor!


Chaska, Minnesota (August 14): Thongchai Jaidee survived the curse of John Paramor. Despite being prodded by the recently notorious European Tour referee to pick up the pace during round two of the US PGA Championship, Thongchai posted a topsy-turvy, four-over-par 76 and sits tied for 39th place at Hazeltine National. The Asian Tour number one trails mid-way leader Tiger Woods by nine shots. It was an adventurous 18 holes of golf for Thongchai. Leaving the tee box at the 16th hole, he and playing partners Scott Verplank and Craig Thomas encountered Paramor, the rules official who created a ruckus last week when he put Padraig Harrington and Tiger Woods 'on the clock' for slow play on the 70th hole of the WGC Bridgestone Championship. Paramor didn’t put Thongchai's threesome on the clock, but he did warn them to hit the accelerator. Thongchai double-bogeyed that hole and the next. “If you don’t get a penalty, it’s okay,” said Thongchai, adding that Paramor was simply doing his job. “He’s a nice guy. I love John Paramor.”

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Votaw Hails 'Important Step Closer For Golf's Olympic Return'


Chaska, Minnesota (August 13): An hour before the International Olympic Committee’s Executive Board was scheduled to announce the fate of golf for the 2016 Games, Ty Votaw was on the phone with Peter Dawson. Votaw, the US PGA Tour executive who has been 'on loan' to the International Golf Federation for 14 months to spearhead its Olympic bid, was here at the US PGA Championship. Dawson, head of the R&A and Votaw’s partner in the Olympic effort, was in Berlin, where the IOC’s announcement was being made. Both men were on tenterhooks. Supporters of Olympic golf had grown increasingly optimistic in recent weeks, but this was no done deal. Six sports had lobbied intensely, and the IOC is a notoriously political animal. As their phone conversation was ending, Dawson said to Votaw: “Let’s just hope no one pulls a rabbit out of their hat.”

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Seoul Super Series Date For Super-Talented Young Trio


Seoul (August 13): Three of golf's most exciting young players - Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy, Japan’s Ryo Ishikawa and Danny Lee from New Zealand - will square off in next month's US$1 million Kolon Hana Bank Korea Open. In a massive bonus for golf fans in the region, the talented trio will showcase their skills at Woo Jeung Hills Golf Club, near Seoul, in an event that forms the second leg of the newly-launched OneAsia Super Series. Defending champion Bae Sang-moon from Korea, and China’s Liang Wen-chong will also play in the prestigious tournament, which is in its 52nd year.

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New PGA Alliance Promises 'To Reach Out To Asia'


Chaska, Minnesota (August 13): In a development that appears to dovetail nicely with the anticipated addition of golf to the Olympic family, it was announced yesterday at the US PGA Championship that nine leading organisations that represent golf professionals have joined forces to form the World PGA Alliance. “This alliance is being formed to establish and guide teaching, playing, and educational standards for the golf profession on a worldwide basis, and more importantly, share best practices and player development for adults and youth,” said Jim Remy, president of the PGA of America. “It is a significant commitment to growing this great sport on a worldwide basis.” The World PGA Alliance is composed of the Professional Golfers’ Associations of America, Australia, Canada, Europe, Germany, Great Britain & Ireland, Japan, South Africa and Sweden.

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Cobra Scores A Hit With Game-Enhancing S2 Irons


Fairhaven (August 11): Cobra Golf has unveiled the new high-performance Cobra S2 Iron series designed for avid golfers. According to the manufacturers, the game-enhancing Cobra S2 Irons - available from September 1 - offer superior accuracy and distance in a forgiving mid-width sole design. The Cobra S2 Forged Irons offer the unique combination of control, distance and forgiveness with outstanding forged feel. “The new Cobra S2 Irons provide incredible all-around performance,” said Brian Zender, General Manager of Cobra Golf. “With these irons we’ve built on our heritage of offering technologically advanced game-enhancing clubs with exceptional value."

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