Golf: from the green to the page to the screen

Golf news from Oregon

Golf: from the green to the page to the screen

Some time next year a movie will be released that my not fit into the ’sports genre’ category. “Golf in the Kingdom” has taken years to realize, having sat with Academy Award winner Clint Eastwood for a decade (who held the option on the film) but not coming to fruition in his very capable hands. Fifteen scripts later and still nothing. Now jump scene to spring 2009…

Producer Mindy Affrime and director Susan Streitfeld just wrapped up the shoot in Oregon at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort. They call their adaptaion of the 1972 novel (of the same name) by Michael Murphy a low-budget film; closer to an art film than a sports film. Low-budget or not, the cast is made up of talented actors including Malcolm McDowell, Frances Fischer, Mason Gamble and David O’Hara. Are there awards in their future for best actor, or awards for the movie’s editing or costumes? Time will tell, and what’s of greater importance to the author is that “Golf in the Kingdom” has finally been realized on film after 37 years of waiting paitently in the green…

Peninsula championship

Trophy news from Washington State

Peninsula championship

golf trophies

All seven golf courses on the North Olympic Peninsula held organizational meetings to structure the first ever Peninsula Championship for May 12 with a 9 a.m. shotgun start.

Ray DeJong is the chairman for this first-time event, and he reports progress was made.

Cedars at Dungeness Golf Course head PGA professional Bill Shea has agreed to host the event – and the very large silver cup will be the traveling golf trophy awarded to the winner.

This year’s winner will keep the trophy for one year on display at their golf course, and each annual winner that follows will do the same.

Twelve players will be selected to represent each team, and no professional players will be allowed as team members.

Prizes are yet to be determined along with individual awards and special awards to all team members of a winning team.

Harrington sorry that he can’t compete for Vardon

Golf trophy

Trophy news from St. Louis, MO

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Padraig Harrington was about the only one not complaining that a double major champion could not qualify for the Tour Championship, blaming only himself for missing consecutive cuts at the start of the PGA Tour Playoffs.

His biggest letdown? Realizing he couldn’t win the Vardon Trophy.

Harrington figured he was safe playing the minimum 15 events on the PGA Tour. But he missed the cut three times, and finished the year with only 52 rounds. Players must complete 60 rounds to be eligible for the Vardon Trophy for lowest adjusted scoring average.

Harrington Soars to Lead in PGA Player of Year, Vardon Trophy Races

Golf Trophy

Trophy News from Palm Beach Gardens, Florida

Padraig Harrington of Ireland, who wrote a remarkable chapter in major championship history over the past few weeks with victories in the British Open and PGA Championship, has taken a commanding lead in The PGA of America’s 2008 Player of the Year point standings.

Harrington also leads the Vardon Trophy race, and with 44 completed rounds, needs to record 16 additional complete rounds to meet the required minimum of 60 rounds for one of the most prestigious season-ending awards.

Should Harrington continue his momentum toward both awards, he would be the first European since Nick Faldo in 1990 to win the PGA Player of the Year award and would be the first-ever European to capture the Vardon Trophy, presented annually by The PGA of America since 1937 (not awarded from 1942-’46 due to WWII).

The PGA of America has honored the game’s best players with The PGA Player of the Year Award since 1948. The Award is currently presented to the top touring professional based on a point system for tournament wins, official money standings and scoring averages.

Since 1937, the Vardon Trophy, named by The PGA of America in honor of famed British golfer Harry Vardon, is awarded annually to the touring professional with the lowest adjusted scoring average.

Originally Written by PGA.com Staff

As Norman Fades, Harrington Cruises to Second British Title Trophy

Trophy News From England

SOUTHPORT, England — They’re dancing in the streets of Ireland for the second year in a row after favorite son Padraig Harrington crashed Greg Norman’s improbable party Sunday in the final round of the 137th British Open at Royal Birkdale.

“Obviously, winning a major puts you in a special club,” Harrington said. “Winning two of them puts you in a new club altogether.

Harrington, who woke up Thursday wondering if his sore right wrist would allow him to defend his trophy, survived three consecutive bogeys starting at the seventh hole and fired a back-nine 4-under 32 that included an eagle-3 to win by four shots at 3-over 283.

Norman, who was tying to become the oldest winner of a major trophy by five years, began with three bogeys. After reclaiming the lead at the turn, Norman could muster only one birdie on the inward nine.

Norman, who has lost seven times when leading a major after 54 holes, was not downcast.

“Quite honestly, I’m sure I surprised a lot of people,” he told the Associated Press.

Poulter thought he could bring England its first British championship trophy since Nick Faldo in 1992, playing bogey-free over his final 15 holes.

“I can only do what I can do,” Poulter said. “And I done my best.”

Harrington, who ended Europe’s eight-year drought in majors with his victory last year, is the first European to walk away with the Claret Jug golf trophy in consecutive years since Scotland’s James Braid did it — 102 years ago.

“I did say to Greg coming down 18 that I was sorry it wasn’t his story that was going to be told,” said Harrington, who punctuated his win with an eagle on the par-5 17th, where he hit a 5-wood to 4 feet.

“But I wanted to win myself. … Greg has been a great champion through the game, and you know, another win at this time in his career would have been the icing on the cake.”

Originally Written by Steve DiMeglio in USA Today