Golf Central

Willie Anderson (left) with Alex Smith: 'Get your hand off me, laddie...'

It was on this day in 1903, that the great Willie Anderson won his second US Open. Anderson, a Scottish immigrant to the USA, became the first golfer to win the US Open twice in playoffs, on this occasion beating fellow Scot, David Brown, at Balustrol GC in Springfield, New Jersey.

Anderson's first playoff victory came in 1901 against Alex Smith at Myopia GC, Massachusetts. Not only did Willie become the first player to win four US Open titles, he is still the only man to win three consecutive US Opens (1903-05). Berwick-born Anderson could have won another US Open in 1897, had Joe Lloyd not eagled the final hole.

Three years earlier in 1906, Alex Smith became the first golfer in US Open history to break 300 for 72 holes when he posted a 295 for a seven-stroke victory over his brother, Willie, at Onwetsia Club, Illinois.

On this day in 1613, in a London of vagabonds and bards, The Globe Theatre burnt to the ground. Famous for an association with Shakespeare, a building was erected in 1614 and closed in 1642. Then, in 1997, the New Globe opened on a site standing 230 metres away from that of the original.

Disney illustrator Don Rosa

So it's Akiko Fukushima! as they say in Japan to former PGA Tour member, Ed Humenik (1959), Nick Nolte clone Gary Busey (1944), Disney illustrator Don Rosa (1951), and snooker underdog Joe Johnson (1981). Had he not gone to play golf on the fairways of heaven in 1961, 1925 US Open winner, Willie McFarlane born on this day in 1890.

The stunning Hunting course at De Vere Slaley Hall was in pristine condition as the 2009 De Vere Collection PGA Seniors Championship got underway on Thursday 25th June.

The tournament, which holds one of the most prestigious prizes in senior golf, has once again attracted a quality field to the North-East of England, including Ryder Cup legends, Major champions and a former World #1, in Ian Woosnam.

Ian Woosnam on the second at De Vere Slaley Hall

The 2009 championship is the second consecutive year that the North-East’s premier golf resort has welcomed some of golf’s most decorated names, following a successful 2008 championship which saw one of the most dramatic finishes in Senior Tour history...

www.devere-hotels.com/golf

At last, a truly fitting tribute…

If you can pull your face away from your hanky for one moment, then please take a look and behold possibly the only piece of memorabilia that does the late King of Pop any justice whatsoever. Yes, forget his impressive back catalogue or his groundbreaking dance routines, if you want to remember the Michael the way he would (probably) have wanted, then why not get yourself a Jacko golf cart with our hero portrayed as none other than Peter Pan (Thought that was Cliff Richard – Ed)?

Remarkably, it’s just come up for auction and can be yours for a guide price of around $4,000-$6,000.

It was a great day for the Open on this day in 1910, when it celebrated its Golden Jubilee (is that 50 years?- Ed) at St. Andrews. The first event was held at Prestwick in 1860, where eight players challenged for the title over three rounds on a 12-hole course, where Willie Park, Snr. walked away victorious with a score of 174.

*As teachers, that is...

If you were going to pick two legendary golfers to get kids excited about golf, then you couldn't do much better than Ryder Cup legend Ian Woosnam, or Costantino Rocca, the big, lovable Italian bear who wept at St Andrews in 2005.

And, luckily for for the pupils of Newcastle's Wingrove School, the partnership between the Golf foundation and Slaley Hall did exactly that in the build-up to the PGA Championship, held on the spanking track at the North-East's finest hotel.

The aim of the Tri-Golf initiative is to encourage children to learn golf in a fun environment, while introducing them to technique and etiquette that make golf unique. “Getting children involved in golf at this age is so important. The likes of Tiger, and more recently Rory McIlroy, have proved that age is no barrier," said Woosie. "To involve the local community in an event like this is fantastic and you never know, this initiative could unearth a future Major Champion!”

Click here for further information on Slaley Hall, or here to find out more on the Golf Foundation.