THE RED Arrows never fail to impress and they were again one of the highlights at this year’s Southport Air Show.
One the Saturday they were the last to appear at 5.15pm, but no one had left the beach and there were thousands of people waiting for their display.
Before they came there was a sense of anticipation. Individuals were looking to the skies and checking their watches.
Then bang on 5.15pm they flew directly over the beach and out to sea.
It was worth the wait to see them.
The display lasted about 30 minutes and manoeuvres included planes flying towards each other then turning at the last minute.
Another display saw two planes draw a heart in the sky with their trails.
When they had finished there was a round of applause from the crowd.
Meanwhile, it was good to see Darren Clarke take this year’s Open at Royal St George’s.
On the last day he played excellent golf, although he was lucky on a couple of occasions.
He had been close to winning an Open before at Royal Troon in 1997, but this time he held his nerve.
Many people’s favourites, Luke Donald and Lee Westwood (World number one and two) did not even make the cut.
Lee Westwood must be wondering when his first major is coming.
Yani Tseng is putting up a good defence of her title at The Women’s Open at Carnoustie.
Sunday 31 July 2011
Sunday 17 July 2011
Can Darren Clarke win The Open?
IT will be interesting to see if Darren Clarke can go on and win The Open at St George’s this afternoon.
He has come close at The Open before, in 1997 he came second to Justin Leonard and in 2001 he was third to David Duval.
Clarke looks very relaxed on the course and hopefully he can keep that frame of mind for the final day when the pressure will be more intense.
All the talk has been of Rory McIlroy, but I think Rickie Fowler has played better. He looks hungrier than Rory to win this week.
It will also be good to see Thomas Bjorn do well as he should have won The Open in 2003, the last time it was played at St George’s.
Many people were shocked to see Luke Donald and Lee Westwood, the world number one and two, fail to make the cut. They were seen as favourites to win before the tournament started.
Meanwhile, Helen should win The Apprentice tonight.
She is the strongest contender of the four remaining, which also includes Tom, Susan and Jim.
I suppose it all depends on the business plan that she has put forward to Lord Sugar.
Tonight, they will be interviewed by experts in the field and watching them being quizzed is always entertaining as those who have been economical with the truth are often found out.
It is a shame that the programme is on for two hours though, because the one hour shows are a better format.
He has come close at The Open before, in 1997 he came second to Justin Leonard and in 2001 he was third to David Duval.
Clarke looks very relaxed on the course and hopefully he can keep that frame of mind for the final day when the pressure will be more intense.
All the talk has been of Rory McIlroy, but I think Rickie Fowler has played better. He looks hungrier than Rory to win this week.
It will also be good to see Thomas Bjorn do well as he should have won The Open in 2003, the last time it was played at St George’s.
Many people were shocked to see Luke Donald and Lee Westwood, the world number one and two, fail to make the cut. They were seen as favourites to win before the tournament started.
Meanwhile, Helen should win The Apprentice tonight.
She is the strongest contender of the four remaining, which also includes Tom, Susan and Jim.
I suppose it all depends on the business plan that she has put forward to Lord Sugar.
Tonight, they will be interviewed by experts in the field and watching them being quizzed is always entertaining as those who have been economical with the truth are often found out.
It is a shame that the programme is on for two hours though, because the one hour shows are a better format.
Sunday 10 July 2011
Luke Donald among the favourites for The Open
THE Open is returning to Royal St George’s next week.
Royal St George’s is on the south coast of England and has held the event 13 times before.
The last player to win the Claret Jug there was Ben Curtis in 2003. Ben Curtis was a little known American at the time.
Thomas Bjorn had led The Open that year by two with three holes to play. But it wasn’t to be Bjorn’s year, he dropped shots at the Par 3 16th when he took three to get out of the bunker, finishing the hole with a double bogey five.
In the same year Mark Roe was disqualified after he had signed for a 67. He and his playing partner, Jesper Parnevik, and forgotten to swap their cards before the round.
Those who watched the event will also remember Woods losing his opening drive in the thick rough of the course. He had to go back and play three off the tee.
Unfortunately, Tiger Woods won’t be playing this year as he has had to pull out because of an injury.
Royal St George’s is also the setting for Ian Fleming’s book Goldfinger, where James Bond plays golf against the villain of the story. The venue was not used for the setting of the film though and it was changed to Stoke Park, near London.
Ian Fleming was a member of RSG too.
Favourite to win among those who will be playing are Rory McIlroy, who has just won The US Open, in spectacular style.
Another European player in with a chance is Luke Donald, a golfer in good form at the moment and the World Number One.
Lee Westwood, yet to win a major, will be hoping to break his duck as well.
Royal St George’s is on the south coast of England and has held the event 13 times before.
The last player to win the Claret Jug there was Ben Curtis in 2003. Ben Curtis was a little known American at the time.
Thomas Bjorn had led The Open that year by two with three holes to play. But it wasn’t to be Bjorn’s year, he dropped shots at the Par 3 16th when he took three to get out of the bunker, finishing the hole with a double bogey five.
In the same year Mark Roe was disqualified after he had signed for a 67. He and his playing partner, Jesper Parnevik, and forgotten to swap their cards before the round.
Those who watched the event will also remember Woods losing his opening drive in the thick rough of the course. He had to go back and play three off the tee.
Unfortunately, Tiger Woods won’t be playing this year as he has had to pull out because of an injury.
Royal St George’s is also the setting for Ian Fleming’s book Goldfinger, where James Bond plays golf against the villain of the story. The venue was not used for the setting of the film though and it was changed to Stoke Park, near London.
Ian Fleming was a member of RSG too.
Favourite to win among those who will be playing are Rory McIlroy, who has just won The US Open, in spectacular style.
Another European player in with a chance is Luke Donald, a golfer in good form at the moment and the World Number One.
Lee Westwood, yet to win a major, will be hoping to break his duck as well.
Monday 4 July 2011
Andy Murray can win Wimbledon
WATCHING Andy Murray take the first set from Rafael Nadal in Friday’s semi-final, I thought Murray could have a chance of reaching his first Wimbledon final.
He was beating Nadal at his own game and was playing very aggressively.
Murray seemed to be in control and was serving well and taking the game to Nadal.
Even Andrew Castle, commentating on the match, was asking the question, ‘could we have a British player in a Wimbledon final?’
Then after one point Nadal took the advantage and didn’t let go of it until he had won the match.
The point came in the third game of the second set. Murray was 15-30 up on Nadal’s serve and had an open court to hit a winner, but unfortunately flinched and hit the shot long. What could have become 15-40 (with two break points for Murray) ended up being 30-30.
Murray seemed to be a different player after this, it was as if he was beating himself internally for his missed opportunity.
He went on to take the next seven games on a trot and Nadal was to win the next three sets convincingly.
It is now 75 years since the last player from Great Britain – Fred Perry – won Wimbledon.
I am sure Murray can go two steps further at Wimbledon and lift the title, but he needs to work with someone on the mental side of his game.
It also felt on Friday that Nadal was more hungry for the win and chased down every ball in sight.
Maybe Murray will be able to clinch his first Grand Slam victory at this year’s US Open at Flushing Meadows.
He reached the final of the US Open in 2008, but lost in straight sets to Roger Federer.
He was beating Nadal at his own game and was playing very aggressively.
Murray seemed to be in control and was serving well and taking the game to Nadal.
Even Andrew Castle, commentating on the match, was asking the question, ‘could we have a British player in a Wimbledon final?’
Then after one point Nadal took the advantage and didn’t let go of it until he had won the match.
The point came in the third game of the second set. Murray was 15-30 up on Nadal’s serve and had an open court to hit a winner, but unfortunately flinched and hit the shot long. What could have become 15-40 (with two break points for Murray) ended up being 30-30.
Murray seemed to be a different player after this, it was as if he was beating himself internally for his missed opportunity.
He went on to take the next seven games on a trot and Nadal was to win the next three sets convincingly.
It is now 75 years since the last player from Great Britain – Fred Perry – won Wimbledon.
I am sure Murray can go two steps further at Wimbledon and lift the title, but he needs to work with someone on the mental side of his game.
It also felt on Friday that Nadal was more hungry for the win and chased down every ball in sight.
Maybe Murray will be able to clinch his first Grand Slam victory at this year’s US Open at Flushing Meadows.
He reached the final of the US Open in 2008, but lost in straight sets to Roger Federer.
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