One Year To Rio:Olympics Will Mark a New Chapter For Golf

Golfers already have their eye on the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro,Brazil.Three of them,Henrik Stenson of Sweden,American Matt Kuchar and South Korean Ben An,plus PGA executive vice president Ty Votaw,gathered for a press conference at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in Akron,Ohio to mark the year away milestone.The Games open on 5 August 2016 and run through 21 August;while the golf competition begins on 17 August.
The new Olympic golf course in Rio had a good growing season,Mr.Votaw pointed out,and seems to be on track for a successful opening next year.Designed by architect Gil Hanse of Hanse Golf Course Design,Inc. in Malvern,Pennsylvania,the course was constructed with a high degree of care for the environmentally sensitive site,including a selective logging technique the firm hadn't used before.It will host a test event by prominent male and female golfers in March 2016.The golf world will have to deal with an altered calendar to accommodate the Olympics,as well as the prospect of top golfers skipping certain annual tournaments in order to prepare or rest for the Olympics.*
I'm excited about the Olympics,said Matt Kuchar.I know most of the other players are excited.*
To compete there and hopefully win a medal for Sweden would be very special,Henrik Stenson added.It's going to be a strong achievement and something you would be remembered for the rest of your life.It's been good for golf.We've seen a lot of support in the developing countries.Golf being in the Olympics is very important in some of these countries.*
Ben An,23,whose Korean name is Byeong-Hun An,has been having a breakout year on the European Tour,winning the BMW PGA Championship in Wentworth,England,and placing in the top ten in several other tournaments.
If it weren't for the Olympics,I wouldn't even be here,An joked,referring to the fact that his parents,both Olympic medal-winners in table tennis,his father for South Korea and his mother for China,got acquainted at the Olympics.*
The three players posed with the silver trophy that was won in 1904 by the last Olympic golf champion,Canadian George Seymour Lyon (1858-1938),a very successful amateur of his day.The sport was then excluded from the Olympics for well over a century.We applied to return eight years ago,Mr.Votaw recalled.

Kaymer Defends US Open Title at Chambers Bay

German golfer Martin Kaymer,30,is defending his US Open Championship trophy at Chambers Bay in University Place,Washington.Chambers Bay is a public,links style golf course on the Puget Sound-the type of course developed in ancient Scotland,rather than the standard type of golf course.Kaymer won the 2014 US Open at Pinehurst #2,a standard golf course in North Carolina.Kaymer spoke to the media at a Monday press conference.
A links style course has massive bunkers,fescue grass fairways and open terrain,as opposed to forested.
I believe we are going to play three British Opens this year,Kaymer joked,referring to the three links style courses at Chambers Bay in Washington,St.Andrews in Scotland,and Whistling Straits in Wisconsin that are on the PGA Tour this season.
I think the guys from the UK might have a bit of an advantage this week,Kaymer noted,because that is what they grew up on.Honestly,I think it's a great golf course.In a way,you have to be very creative.It's unusual for a US Open course,but I think for those of us from Europe,we welcome such a course.
I said to my caddy,this is probably the toughest round in our career,because of all the expectations.I have to challenge myself on Sunday,not challenge the other players.If you really focus on the right thing,it shouldn't be that complicated.
There are so many guys who can win a golf tournament today-even if you are #250 in the world.The field is very hard to beat.You have to go with Rory McIlroy.I think Jason Day has a very good chance.Phil Mickelson-I think he has a good chance,knowing how aggressive,how creative he can be.He's kind of under the radar,Kaymer told reporters gathered at Chambers Bay for the US Open Championship,the most grueling test in golf.The tournament runs Thursday through Sunday and is being broadcast by Fox Sports.

The Masters:Will McIlroy Be Good Enough This Year?

World number one golfer Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland,who turns 26 on May 4,has been competing in The Masters tournament since 2009.He'll be playing alongside Phil Mickelson and Ryan Moore in the first round on Thursday afternoon.McIlroy spoke with journalists at Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia on Tuesday.
I feel like I've done a lot of good work the past couple of days to prepare,McIlroy said.It's such an intimidating place the first time you get here.I'm playing my usual game-that's one of the biggest things I've learned.I'm just ready for the gun to go off on Thursday morning.
You just realise there's holes out here where par's a good score,and you move on.I'm here and have a great opportunity to do what few people in golf have done (win a career grand slam of the four majors).I've just really tried to keep on winning the next one.Golf's a very fickle game,so you don't take anything for granted.
My weight training is about longevity and trying to prolong my career.I originally got into it because of my bad back.It helps me to practice more.
I'd say Bubba Watson is my favourite to win.He has the perfect game for this course.He's won it two of the last three years.He tees it up really well.
I enjoy playing with Phil Mickelson.There's a good buzz around Phil,he's won it so many times (three).I enjoy his company,and his caddy Bones Mackay's as well.I've played with Ryan Moore a few times.
I talked with Tiger Woods on the practice tee.He feels good.He's been working hard.Like everyone else,I'll be looking at his score to see how he does.
You guys can write the stories and I won't read them.*
McIlroy would be the sixth player in history to win the career grand slam,should he win The Masters.Last year,he won two majors,the Open Championship and the PGA Championship.He's won the most PGA tournaments since 2010-nine.In his last fifteen starts,he's achieved four wins and four second place finishes.

European Golf:Rory Takes DP World Trophy and Scepter

Rory McIlroy fought off effects of desert heat on Sunday to win at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai,UAE.The culmination of the season-long Race To Dubai was held on the Earth Course at the Jumeirah Golf Estates.Northern Ireland's McIlroy posed in his red polo shirt with the huge trophy and scepter he was awarded for topping the tournament field.
McIlroy finished with a final round 23 under par 66,followed by England's Justin Rose in 2nd,and South Africa's Charles Schwartzel and England's Luke Donald  sharing 3rd on the leader board,respectively.
McIlroy's golden season included a money list double,dominating earnings on both the European and PGA Tours,as well as a victory at the PGA Tour Championship in Atlanta.It's a great way to finish a great season,McIlroy said.I feel like I can improve in different areas of the game still.
McIlroy related that he felt ill for a few days.The desert sun got to him,but he took a few things for it and soldiered on,notching five consecutive birdies on the final holes,as witnessed by a substantial crowd of hardy fans.
Besides DP World,sponsors of the tournament included CNN;BMW;and Rolex.Jumeirah Golf Estates is comprised of two neighbourhoods,Fire and Earth,of European style villas in the New Dubai area,just beyond the skyline.The hilly topography surrounding the Estates suggests the Mediterranean.Existing villas are going for approximately 1.8-3.5 million dollars US.