"I would rather play with 3 old codgers who were fun than 3 "good" players who were a pain in the toosh".

Thus said Chip when I told her about my half round of golf today. 

Byron (Welsh), Mac (Scots) & Tom (English) - I kid you not, invited me to join them.  I laid claim to my Irish ancestry just to make it representative of the UK.  (OK,  Grandad was actually from the south, but let's not be picky).   

They are well into their 70's;   Mac had a bad stroke a couple of years ago from which he has not fully recovered.. His wife died young and he brought up 3 daugters single-handed. Tom is apparently a High Court judge.  Byron feels the need to provide these personal details.  Actually he never stops talking, even when I am addressing the ball.  

They are totally relaxed in each other's company and put me at ease.  Supportive & sympathetic  in turn.  However, it cannot be said that they are conducive to low scoring.   They are oblivious to whose turn it is to play, whether from the tee, the fairway or on the green (where they merrily walk across, round, up/down, when someone (ME) is trying to putt).  The weather was cold but gloriously sunny and no wind.  The banter was gentle but hilarious. 

"I would rather play with 3 old codgers who were fun..............."    Ain't that the truth.  Thank you, Byron, Mac & Tom. 

I read an interesting article on David Duval by Iain Carter, BBC Sport Golf correspondent today.

My enduring memory of Duval was his most gracious acceptance speech on winning the 2001 Open Championship at Royal St. Lytham, and I have retained affection and respect for him.  

Duval has battled neck & wrist injuries, vertigo and depression.  He's run out of medical & earnings exemptions. Having had only 1 top 10 finish all season and finishing 152nd on the money list, he has the humility to go to Beaver Creek GC to begin his quest to retain his PGA Tour card for 2012, finishing 2nd.  Of course he will hope for and welcome sponsor invitations but he really wants to make the effort to play his way back .

To quote Iain Carter in his article "Polar opposite of John Daly who relies on sponsor invitations to carry on his career and then abuses them by walking off the course". 

Sorry to disappoint - not about the golf but the following made me smile and hope it will do the same for you.

Darren Clarke's caddie won the Caddie of the Year Award "for putting up with him"!

Ian Poulter's caddie won the Worst Dressed Caddie Award for wearing his boss's clothing line.

Apparently there was a lot of edgy banter - plus a lot of gags at  Wozz-Ilroy's expense. 

I do wish I could attend one of these evenings!

No, not that Young Tom, but Tom Lewis aged 20.  Named after Tom Watson with whom he played the first round in the 2011 Open when he had the lowest single-round score for an amateur in Open Championship history and equal lowest in any major.  Made his professional debut in Sept. '11 and  now wins in only his 3rd  tournament.  You may remember him from the 2011 Walker Cup?  Oh - he's from Welwyn Garden City (Faldo territory)..

Here comes Bridgestone.  Move over Rickie & Rory?   

Whilst this is not my favourite golf tournament of the year (celebrity pro-am event) I do appreciate the views of Kingsbarn, Carnoustie and of course St. Andrews.  Nothing that fascinating to report from the leaderboard so far (Louis O T3, GMac T4, Kaymer T9,)  I'm only writing this to boast that we are having one of the finest  spells of weather we have ever had for this time of year; might even be record-breaking temperatures, so the players are loving it.   See, it doesn't rain here EVERY day.  

One would expect no less from the Seve Trophy.  Has to be dramatic ups and downs, twists and turns, doesn't there?

GB&I dominated Continental Europe on the first day and took a 4-1 lead into the second series of four-balls but won only one match & halved another when the opposition surged back  to 5 1/2-4 1/2.  Momentum swung back to the visitors who won the morning greensomes by three and a half points to half a point.  Europe appeared to mounting another challenge in the afternoon, leading handsomely in 3 matches, but GB&I reeled them in (plus series of mistakes on both sides) to lead 11 1/2 - 6 1/2 going into today's singles.  (Go Rocky!!). Notable performance from Simon Dyson, winning all four of his matches & poor performances from Jacquelin & Pablo Larrazabal.  Never seen so many putts lip out either. 

Discord in the Europe camp?  Thomas Bjorn, when asked whether Jean van de Velde, the Europe Captain, had been making use of his Ryder Cup experience, said (curtly) "No.  He's done his own thing."  No word from Jimenez/Olazabal on the subject. Conversely, Paul McGinley, the GB&I Captain,  said "I'll be looking for input from the experienced men - Lee, Darren & Ian.  I'll be consulting them all the way through".

On another note, Monty called for mandatory appearances in this event to be part of European Tour qualification for the Ryder Cup.  Idiot.   McGinley said " Everyone makes decisions on what is best for them".  Exactly.

Did I already say "Go Rocky!"?