Golf Central

Ouch ...:  Too many Guinnesses then last night?
Perhaps. I'm not sure Guinness in India is a really great idea ...: I'm with you on that one. By the look of the leaderboard, perhaps our Irishmen might have had a jar or two as well.
The course showed its teeth today ...: It sure did. So much for the bad rap Asian courses get about not being tough enough for the world's best. Ernie Els has been raving about this layout all week.
Well, Damien McGrane and Graeme McDowell are still in it ...: Indeed they are. But it's going to be a tough final round for anyone who wants to claim this first Indian Masters title.
Who's your pick then?: Hard to say. I wouldn't rule out one of the Irishmen ... McGrane and McDowell are both minus-5, just a shot behind Raphaël Jacquelin.
Yeah, but I see a Big name on the board now as well ...: You're right. The Big Easy, Ernie Els, carded the only round in the 60s, a 69 that carried him to within four of the French leader.
Can Ernie win then?: Sure, but anyone can, really. The two Indian lads, Arjun Atwal and SSP Chowrasia are also in the mix at 4-under, so really it's anyone's cup of tea.
Mmmmm, a cuppa is exactly what I need ... So who's your pick then?: I'm not making one today. This is just too close.
Wimp!: Drunk!

Now there's a guy I finally recognise ...: Indeed. It's hard to miss Tim "Lumpy" Herron because you can see him for miles as he duck-walks his way up the Monterey Peninsula.
I like Tim Herron. Glad to see him doing well ...: Sure, everyone likes Lumpy. The big 250-pounder with the cherubic face is our leader by one for now, but every thundering, ponderous step he takes toward Sunday is another step toward his first title on the PGA Tour since he won his fourth at the Colonial in 2006.
Want to hear my favourite Tim Herron story?: Go on then.
That he actually likes broccoli ... He just likes cheeseburgers better. I love the guy ...: Everybody does. Lumpy's our leader at 7-under, but there are 179 other players at Pebble, so we might as well talk about some of them, too.
Fire away ...: Well, the leaderboard is a great big old mess. You can't make sense of it until tomorrow, after everyone has played at least one round on each of the three courses, then they make the cut.
Who's close? ...: Well, Michael Allen for one. The 49-year-old warhorse with no Tour wins in 300 starts is a shot behind Lumpy at minus-6, alongside last week's winner JB Holmes, Ray's son Robert Floyd, and Florida's Nicholas Thompson.
OK what about the other stars?: Well, George Lopez outdid himself. The comedian still had his Daniel Chopra wig/visor on, but Friday he was wearing a full kilt as well. That's a hell of an outfit.
I meant the golf stars. How did the Shark do with all the pressure of his future bride Chrissie Evert watching him?: Better, actually. Greg Norman shot 70 at Spyglass, much better than his 76 on Thursday, so with a good third round at Pebble golf's newest glamour couple might stick around til Sunday.
Sounds good. But he's not the Aussie I'm interested in. How did the cocky 20-year-old Aussie Jason Day do?: He's right there. The youngest player on the PGA Tour fired a 70 at Spyglass as well and he's 5-under. But he's got to get around Tim Herron first ...
And that's a big, slow-moving wide-load, baby ...: Let's get a cheeseburger ...

Burns Night was weeks ago, but this day in history is a good day to be born a Scotsman, especially if you want to win major golf championships or Ryder Cups. For it was on this day in 1949 that Bernard Gallacher OBE was born in Bathgate, became one of Europe's best players in the '70s, and went on to win the 1995 Ryder Cup as captain. ... and on this day in 1958, two-time major champion and humble hero Sandy Lyle was born in Shrewsbury, though he's Scottish through and through ...

Top o' the mornin', it's a good day to be Irish! ...: Since when are you even one bit Irish, mate?
Well, I'm not at all, really ... I just fancy a pint of Guinness ...: Me too! And I'm with you on that Irish thing. It was a good day for Damien McGrane. The 36-year-old from County Meath had four birdies on the back today to finish with a 69, two shots ahead of the pack at 8-under.
Yeah, and what about that other Irishman ...: I was just getting to him. Yes, Graeme McDowell is in a three-way tie at 6-under with South Africa's Hendrik Buhrmann and Frenchy Raphaël Jacquelin.
So, do we get to have that pint of Guinness then?: Yes! Just hold your horses! Working before drinking! ... So what did you think of McGrane, other than the fact he gave you an excuse for a Guinness?
I think he was watching Tiger Woods last week ...: I was thinking the same thing. McGrane played the last two rounds in Dubai with the Big Cat and saw up close how it's done. We'll really see if he learned anything this weekend.
Jyoti Randhawa hasn't learned anything ...: Puzzling, that. The guy is from New Delhi, fires a stunner of a 65 yesterday, and then completely came unglued Friday. He forgot what course he was on, how to play golf, and shot 77, getting lapped by three other Indians, including his brother-in-law Digvijay Singh.
He looked shell-shocked out there ...: Another guy walking around in a bit of a daze is Ernie Els. Ernie's spent most of the week how he loves this course, it's tight, challenging, and there's cool things like 13th century Lohdi tombs and peacocks all over the place.
But he hasn't been able to get it together, has he?: Well, Ernie barely made the cut after following up a 75 with a 70. But he's going to need some hot golf to jump over all these guys ahead of him.
I think he looks hungover. Speaking of hangovers, it's Friday night. Where's my Guinness man? McGrane's not going to have the lead forever ...: Look it up on Google and we'll go get one or seven ... There's gotta be an Irish pub in Delhi, there's an Irish pub everywhere, even in Dubai ...
I've already got it ... The Dublin Pub in the Maurya Sheraton in the Diplomatic Enclave ...: Beat you to it! ...

So where are all the celebrities then?...: Well, they're not on the leaderboard, that's for sure. But there are a few of 'em hanging about as always at the Crosby.
Will you stop calling it the Crosby please? What are you, 85 years old?: Sorry. Well, as I was saying, there are some beautiful people about, not to mention the stunning weather.
Who was the main attraction among the celebrities?: Well he's not all that attractive really, but you had to love the comedian George Lopez with his spiked and bleached wig-visor to imitate his playing partner, the big Swindian Daniel Chopra.
That's hilarious ... What shall we call that?: Chopra himself said he was going by the name of "Chopez" the rest of the week. The Kapalua winner is 3-under by the way.
Well, the tournament needed another comedian after Bill Murray pulled out ...: Daniel Chopez will have to do then ...
I like his style. So who the hell are these other guys?: Kent Jones, Roland Thatcher, Brad Adamonis and John Mallinger?
Yeah ...: No idea. But I have an idea we'll find out if they keep playing like this. Jones, from New Mexico, is your leader at 6-under, with the other three guys a shot behind.
How about our defending champ, Phil Mickelson?: Well, it didn't start out too good for Lefty, but he sucked it up with a birdie-eagle-birdie finish at Poppy Hills to rescue his tournament with a 71.
Anything else?: What do you think of the usual six-hour rounds at Pebble?
I think they suck.: Me too, so does Greg Norman, who grumbled his way to a 76.
Well, Greg and I agree on more than just the fact that Chrissie Evert is still hot ...: Amen to that.