Some Tees to Move in Windy St George

With strong winds expected on Thursday, some tees at Royal St George's may be brought forward for the first day of the Open Championship.

Gusts of up to 30 mph are forecast for Thursday, making some fairways unreachable off the tee for many players.

Peter Dawson, chief executive of the Royal and Ancient, has revealed that the par five seventh and the short 11th, which is 243 yards from tee to green, are among the holes that could be modified.

"We do have some wind issues out there," Dawson said. "We made the players aware at the start of the week that some tees may be moved up and they were invited to practice off forward tees if they wished.

"We do have some wind issues out there. We made the players aware at the start of the week that some tees may be moved up and they were invited to practice off forward tees if they wished. I think players should be able to reach the fairway and reach the par threes, frankly." 

Peter Dawson 

Otherwise, the course was described by R&A championship committee chairman Jim McArthur as "in terrific condition" and by Dawson as "right up there with the best."

"We believe that Royal St. George's is a true Open Championship test," McArthur said. "It's very much based on strategic play rather than muscle power."

US Open champion Rory McIlroy played a 6.30am practice round on Wednesday and after coming off the course in mid-morning, he predicted that some tees may have to be moved up.

Tough

"The seventh and 13th fairways were pretty tough to reach," said the 22-year-old Northern Irishman. "If the wind stays like this they're going to have to move a couple of tees."

McIlroy and his fellow countryman Darren Clarke got their week off to a winning start by beating defending champion Louis Oosthuizen and Masters champion Charl Schwartzel in a fourball match.

Clarke said: "He's playing lovely and has got the ball under control - and it's always nice getting the South Africans' money."

Because of the fast-running nature of the links, McIlroy has decided to put a two-iron into his bag for the first time since he played in the 2007 Open at Carnoustie as an amateur.

It replaces a five-wood because he can keep the ball flight lower.

Mastercard Official Card of The Opem

The Royal and Ancient (R&A) has announced Mastercard as a patron and the official card of the Open Championship.

The four-year deal will come into effect in 2012, where the 141st edition of the oldest and most prestigious Major will be held at Royal Lytham & St Annes in Lancashire.

Financial terms of the agreement were not released.

"We are immensely proud to become a global partner of the Open Championship and thrilled to have the chance to bring golf fans from across the world closer to the games," said Afredo Gangotena, chief marketing officer at Mastercard. "Our association with the Open Championship is a unique opportunity to offer our cardholders priceless access and experiences around the most historic tournament in golf."

R&A director, Mike Tate, added, "We are delighted that Mastercard will become a patron and the official card of the Open Championship from 2012. Mastercard’s expertise, commitment to heightening the fan experience and longstanding association with golf across the world make it a natural partner for the R&A and the Open Championship.”

The new partnership extends and expands the financial services company's association with the sport of golf. Currently Mastercard sponsors several tournaments and organisations, including the PGA Tour and the Arnold Palmer Invitational, and maintains relationships with golfers Ian Poulter, Graeme McDowell, Camilo Villegas, Boo Weekley, Brandt Snedeker, Natalie Gulbis and five-times Open Championship winner and golfing legend Tom Watson.

The Open Championship 2011 gets underway on Thursday 14th July at Royal St George's golf club in Kent. 200,000 spectators are expected to attend the tournament.

Singh Maybe Unable for Open Offer

Former world number one Vijay Singh has been offered an Open Championship place but may not be fit enough to take it.

The Fijian, 48, was joint runner-up the last time it was held at this year's venue, Royal St George's in Sandwich.

The Masters and double USPGA winner pulled out of last week's AT&T National in America with back trouble.

He was one of five players added to the Open field on Monday along with Americans Webb Simpson, JB Holmes and Steve Marino and Japan's Yuta Ikeda.

The places became available because Rory McIlroy (US Open winner), Charl Schwartzel (Masters), KJ Choi (Players Championship) and Luke Donald (PGA Championship) were already exempt - and because past champions Sir Nick Faldo and Greg Norman have decided not to play.

Vijay Singh was golf's world number one for 32 weeks in 2004 and 2005

Singh, currently 63rd in the world rankings, has been plagued by injury and indifferent form in recent months.

He finished tied for 43rd at his most recent event, the PGA Tour's Travelers Championship.

Earlier in June, his decision not to play in qualifying for the US Open ended a run of 67 consecutive appearances in majors.

Australian Brendan Jones is now first reserve for the Open and will be waiting for news on whether former champion Tiger Woods makes the trip.

Woods is still recuperating from injuries to his left leg and said last week that he would not play tournament golf again until he was 100% fit.

French Open winner Thomas Levet has also emerged as a doubt for Sandwich after injuring himself during his exuberant celebrations at his home tournament.

Frenchman Levet, 42, jumped into a lake at Le Golf National after ending a 25-year wait to win the competition and suffered a small fracture to his shin.

He had his leg put in a cast on Monday and has already pulled out of this week's Scottish Open.

He will now undergo intensive treatment before consulting a specialist later this week to decide if he will be able to compete at Royal St George's.

Ryder Cup captain Jose Maria Olazabal and big-hitting fellow Spaniard Alvaro Quiros have also withdrawn from the Scottish Open.

For Olazabal, who has battled with rheumatic pains for well over a decade, it means he will not be part of the Open.

Castle Stuart near Inverness would have been his last chance. An Open spot is on offer to the leading non-exempt player providing he finishes in the top five.