Buzzin Golf

With Tiger Woods otherwise engaged the golfing world had been looking to Phil Mickelson to provide some early-season success on the PGA Tour, but instead he has found himself in the headlines for the wrong reasons.

In the run-up to the Northern Trust Open much of the coverage has involved Mickelson’s continuing use of the Ping Eye2 wedges he has in his bag, which contravene the new ruling with regards to the banishment of square grooved clubs.

The Ping Eye2 wedge is currently exempt from the ruling and offers excellent control over short distances, especially from the rough. The difference is so great that Mickelson used it during the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines despite the club being more than 20 years old.

The biggest talking point came after veteran pro Scott McCarron used a word that is not often bandied around in golf – cheat – to condemn those few still using the club, despite the fact they are not breaking the rules.

Of course, the spirit of the game is what McCarron should have been talking about, but to use the ‘C-word’’ was a shock to many, Mickelson included.

After a few days McCarron did apologise, but the row still rumbles on as the PGA Tour is yet to close the loophole in their rulebook. Talks to find a way to outlaw the old clubs without a legal fight are apparently being held with Ping. For now though, the club can still be used.

Whether Mickelson will be satisfied with the apology is another matter – he admitted he felt slandered by the comments and as one of the biggest names on tour, and apparently one of the cleanest, there is a chance he will take a stand.

But the arguments over square-grooved clubs have at least taken some of the spotlight away from Tiger’s indiscretions and brought the focus back to the action on the course, even if it is not for the right reasons.

Phil Mickleson is currently 6/1 favourite in the golf betting for the Northern Open Trust and his nearest priced competitor is Steve Stricker at 12/1.

New York diamond brand Kwiat has partnered with top women’s golfer Cristie Kerr to design an exclusive collection to benefit the Birdies For Breast Cancer charity.

The partnership officially launches at the Wendy’s Challenge, which takes place at the Rio Secco Golf Club in Las Vegas on December 19th 2009 and will continue through 2010.

The Birdies For Breast Cancer Collection is inspired by Kwiat’s signature Platinum Star Collection and includes a pair of delicate drop earrings as well as a pendant of the same design.

Cristie Kerr will wear both pieces on tour through 2010. She says of the new partnership:

“I am delighted to have Kwiat join us in our mission to raise funds and awareness for breast cancer. The earrings and pendant that they created are truly stunning. Our hope is that these subtle pieces will serve as a reminder of those we have lost to the disease, and hope for the future.”

Following the launch at Wendy’s Challenge the collection will debut to the public at Kwiat’s Madison Avenue flagship boutique. The collection will later be made available at Kwiat in Las Vegas and all other Kwiat retailers.

Kwiat will be donating 10% of all proceeds directly to benefit Birdies For Cancer.

lee westwood award winner

While the unfortunate Tiger Woods saga fills the gossip pages, Lee Westwood has been hogging the golfing headlines. A week after winning the European Tour’s Golfer of the Year award for the third time the world number four walked away with The Golf Writers Trophy, also for a third time.

Seve Ballesteros is the only previous player to win the Golf Writers Trophy three times, so Westwood is in illustrious company and he said after collecting the award;

“I am delighted to receive the award once again. It is a particular honour to have been chosen for the third time and to become one of only two players, alongside Seve, to have won it three times. That means an awful lot to me, especially when I consider the great players we have had on the European Tour. It is Seve who stands out in my mind for his record and his charisma and to be linked with such a great champion makes the award all the more special.

I would also like to mention Catriona Matthew. She would have been worthy of the award considering what she achieved this year. To have won the Women’s British Open just weeks after giving birth to her second child was a spectacular achievement. I have no idea how she managed it”

Catriona Matthew was runner up to Westwood for the Golf Writers Trophy and was followed by the young Irishman Rory McIlroy in third place. McIlroy had further reason to celebrate with news that he has achieved the highest world ranking of any 20 year old ever when he moved up to ninth place in the list.

lee westwood top european player

Lee Westwood has agreed to become an ambassador for the Golf Foundation Charity, the world number four will support Golf Roots, the national project that aims to improve the playing and personal skills of  all young people.

For the last eight years Westwood has supported the Golf Foundation’s ‘Charity Challenge‘ and this year he was awarded with the organisations ‘Spirit Of Golf’ award at the British Open in July.

Mike Round, chief executive of the Golf Foundation, said:

“Lee Westwood has been a great inspiration to many young golfers and we are all delighted that he has agreed to become a Golf Roots ambassador. Through his links with our charity and the clear enthusiasm he shows for junior golf, Lee has also inspired the whole team behind the Golf Roots project, which is a highly important one for the future of the game.

Golf Roots introduces golf skills and the game’s ’skills for life’ to youngsters from all backgrounds and abilities, in schools and golf clubs and through special initiatives in city areas.”

Europe’s number one player Lee Westwood said:

“The Golf Foundation has helped thousands of youngsters, me included, over the years and I am delighted that they consider me worthy of carrying the title and their good name forward.”

elin woods

Jesper Parnevik, the man responsible for bringing Tiger Woods and his Swedish wife Elin together, says that he regrets playing matchmaker to the famous couple following the recent revelations over the world number one’s private life that have emerged since Woods crashed his car last week.

Parnevik said in an interview with the Golf Channel;

“I really feel sorry for Elin – since me and my wife were at fault for hooking her up with him. We probably thought he was a better guy than he is. I would probably need to apologise to her and hope she uses a driver next time instead of a 3-iron.

It is a private thing, of course. But when you are the guy he is, when you are the world’s best athlete, you should think little bit more before you do stuff.”

Elin had been a former nanny for Parnevik and his wife, and it was Parnevik who had introduced the fellow Swede to Tiger Woods.

Meanwhile things could start getting uglier for Woods as nightclub hostess Rachel Uchitel, who has previously denied any involvement with the golfer, will attend a press conference in Los Angeles today.