Around the Golfing World

From the European PGA Tour Website:

• Seve Honoured By PGA

15 Dec 2006

Seve Ballesteros receives the 2006 PGA Recognition Award ©Getty Images

Five-time Major champion Seve Ballesteros was guest of honour at the PGA Annual Luncheon at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London, where he collected the PGA Recognition Award for his outstanding contribution to golf.

The Spanish maestro, who recently delighted his legion of fans by announcing a return to competitive golf next year, has enjoyed a glittering career during which he captured three Open Championship and two Masters titles. The 49 year old also played a huge role in revitalising The Ryder Cup both as a player and captain.

Renowned for his shot-making and genius around the greens, Seve’s charisma and flair inevitably turned him into golf’s biggest attraction during the late 1970s, 80s and 90s.

In presenting the award, PGA Chief Executive Sandy Jones said: “The PGA is delighted to honour Seve with this award which recognises his outstanding contribution to golf since he first burst onto the scene at Royal Birkdale in 1976.

“We always recognise greatness but in life we get very few occasions to recognise genius and Seve is simply a golfing genius.

“Throughout the 70s, 80s and 90s he lit up world golf with his charisma, skill and flair, winning millions of fans in the process and playing a significant part in making The European Tour what it is today.

“He’s also left a lasting impact on The Ryder Cup and richly deserves the acclaim and recognition he is receiving today.”

In addition to celebrating Ballesteros, the luncheon included an auction to raise important funds for the PGA Benevolent Fund and the British Heart Foundation.

• Casey Named The 2006 European Tour Golfer of the Year

12 Dec 2006

George O'Grady and Nick Faldo at The European Tour Golfer of the Year Luncheon ©Getty Images

England’s Paul Casey has been named The 2006 European Tour Golfer of the Year following a wonderful season in which he won three times on The European Tour International Schedule, played a key role in Europe’s record third successive Ryder Cup victory over the United States and came within €35,252 (£23,616) of capturing the Harry Vardon Trophy for the first time.

The 29 year old receives the accolade for the first time in his short professional career after earning the vote of a panel comprising the Association of Golf Writers (AGW), Television, Radio and The European Tour, who met at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London to discuss an outstanding list of contenders for the 2006 award. Among those also considered for the prestigious award were Darren Clarke, Luke Donald, Johan Edfors, Padraig Harrington, David Howell, Robert Karlsson, Jeev Milkha Singh, Henrik Stenson and 2006 Ryder Cup Captain, Ian Woosnam.

Casey won the Volvo China Open, the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles and a cheque for £1 million after capturing the HSBC World Match Play Championship at Wentworth Club in the week prior to The Ryder Cup.

At The K Club, Casey was undefeated in four matches, winning twice and halving twice as Europe equalled their 18 ½ - 9 ½ margin of victory from 2004, when the Englishman also played a leading role as a rookie.

One of the highlights of the week in Ireland came in the Saturday afternoon foursomes with David Howell, when Casey became the first player in Ryder Cup history to close out a match with a hole in one. His 213 yard four iron secured a 5 and 4 win over Stewart Cink and Zach Johnson.

In the season-ending Volvo Masters, Casey was laid low by a virus which threatened his participation at Valderrama. However he showed great fortitude in playing on before missing out on the Order of Merit to Ireland’s Padraig Harrington.

Ultimately, Harrington ended the season with €2,489,336 (£1,667,618) with Casey on €2,454,084 (£1,644,002), Howell on €2,321,166 (£1,554,959) and Robert Karlsson €2,044,935 (£1,369,911).

Paul Casey ©2006 Getty Images

Casey said: “It is a tremendous honour to be named European Tour Golfer of the Year. To win three times during the 2006 season and play a part in Europe’s record breaking third successive Ryder Cup victory before finishing runner-up to Padraig in the Order of Merit was extremely satisfying, although it goes without saying that I was bitterly disappointed to miss out on the Harry Vardon Trophy.

“The race for the Number One position with Padraig, David Howell and Robert Karlsson was truly exceptional and, I believe, fired the imagination of the golfing public in Europe. It didn’t help that I was ill during the Volvo Masters but these things happen in sport. It was a tremendous tussle with my three Ryder Cup team mates and their determination to succeed also helped spur me on at the end of the season.

“Many great golfers have won The European Tour Golfer of the Year Accolade and it gives me a great feeling of pride to join that illustrious roll of honour.”

George O’Grady, Chief Executive of The European Tour, commented: “Two of the highlights of a superb season on The European Tour were The Ryder Cup at The K Club and the Volvo Masters at Valderrama and Paul played a significant role in both events.

“After helping Europe defeat the United States for the third time in succession – and who can forget that hole in one? - he then showed a great desire to win the Order of Merit. The race for the Vardon Trophy, which came down to the wire at Valderrama, was thrilling to watch and Paul never gave up despite his illness. He is an outstanding role model in our sport and a deserving Golfer of the Year.”

Europe’s 2008 Ryder Cup Captain, Nick Faldo, Guest of Honour at The European Tour Golfer of the Year Award Luncheon at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London, said: “It was a very gutsy turnaround by Paul this season after a disappointing 2005 by his own high standards. He was outstanding in The Ryder Cup and his hole-in-one at The K Club was the shot of the year in my book.

“His performances during the season will set him up nicely for the big challenges ahead in 2007.”

John Hopkins, Golf Correspondent at The Times and Chairman of the AGW, said: “Darren took his courage in both hands at The Ryder Cup and Padraig finished the season strongly to win the Order of Merit, but Paul Casey left his stamp on the year by the weight of his achievements. His golf made a great statement throughout the world.”

The Golfer of the Month Award is presented to a European Tour Member each month from January to November for his performance on The European Tour International Schedule and in worldwide competition.

Award winners in 2006 were Henrik Stenson of Sweden (January), South African Charl Schwartzel (February), Jean Van de Velde of France (March), Spain’s Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño (April), England’s David Howell (May), John Bickerton of England (June), Robert Karlsson of Sweden (July), Alejandro Cañizares of Spain (August), Paul Casey of England (September), Padraig Harrington of Ireland (October) and Jeev Milkha Singh of India (November).

• Clarke and Westwood to Star in Qatar

13 Dec 2006

Darren Clarke (L) and Lee Westwood ©2006 Getty Images

European Ryder Cup heroes Darren Clarke and Lee Westwood have confirmed they will compete for the richest prize fund in the history of the Commercial bank Qatar Masters next month, and a top prize of US$366,660.

Clarke and Westwood will join their Ryder Cup team mate Sergio Garcia and World Number Five Retief Goosen at the US$2.2 million event, to be played at Doha Golf Club from January 25-28, 2007.

Commercial bank of Qatar CEO Andrew Stevens said: “I’m delighted to announce that the tenth anniversary of the Qatar Masters will offer record prize money of US$2.2 million as well as the strongest line-up in the history of the tournament.

“In association with the Qatar Golf Association, we believe we have attracted a field that will take the Commercial bank Qatar Masters to the next level.”

Clarke and Westwood can be sure of a fantastic reception from Qatar’s golfing public after both starred in Europe’s magnificent win over the USA at The K Club after occupying both of Ian Woosnam’s Captain’s Picks with distinction.

The Ryder Cup, for Clarke, was a well documented, emotional roller coaster following the death of his wife just weeks earlier, but he performed with courage and a sense of dignity that made The 2006 Ryder Cup one of the most memorable sporting events in recent ye.

“It certainly helped having Lee at my side because he’s always been like a brother to me,” said Clarke, who took maximum three points from his three outings, two of those in the company of Westwood during the Fourball Matches.

“I felt sorry for Lee at the Ryder Cup because so much media attention was focused on me. But he won four points out of five and played fantastically well.”

Clarke became the first European to win one of the World Golf Championships (WGC) events, capturing the US$1 million first prize at the WGC - World Match Play Championship in 2000, defeating Tiger Woods in the final. Three years ago, the 38-year-old became only the second man after Woods to win two WGC events with victory in the WGC-NEC Invitational – a win that helped him to second place in The European Tour Order of Merit.

Westwood has won 16 times on The European Tour and was Order of Merit winner in 2000.

“Darren and Lee are two of the best European players of the past 25 years,” said Commercial bank Qatar Masters Tournament Manager Chris Myers.

“With Ryder Cup stars like Sergio, Darren and Lee joining Retief Goosen in the line up and many more to come, I have no doubt the 2007 Commercial bank Qatar Masters will be the biggest and best in the tournament’s history.”