169 - Completely Owned...

It is a sad day for cool golf boys and girls. International bright young thing and golfing heartthrob Camilo Villegas is leaving Cobra Golf and joining TaylorMade-Adidas Golf (TMaG). I know, I know, I’m in bits too, I'm a man on the verge.

Puma recently announced that they had purchased Cobra Golf as part of their commitment to strengthening their growing and successful golf business and I was I was looking forward to seeing the combination of the two brands being strutted up the fairways by Camilo.

But my hopes have now been dashed as the three-time winner on the PGA Tour has signed an exclusive deal with TMaG that will see the Columbian completely decked out by his new sponsors from top to bottom.

It has been reported that this years The Honda Classic winner will play TaylorMade clubs, a TaylorMade ball, wear TaylorMade headwear, wear a TaylorMade glove, use a TaylorMade staff bag and wear Adidas Golf footwear. That is as close to being owned by a company as you can get I guess.

Mark King (not the bass player from Level 42 but the president and CEO of TMaG) said: "Camilo is a winner, a gentleman, and a fan favourite. Cameras tend to find him because he has presence and magnetism that's impressive and rare.”

‘Spiderman’ will join other TaylorMade Tour Staff including Darren Clarke, Sergio Garcia, Retief Goosen, Dustin Johnson, Martin Kaymer and Justin Rose. The deal is seen as a bit of a coup for TMaG as the 28-year-old is one of the most recognizable and cool players on the PGA Tour right now.

I’m genuinely a bit gutted that that one of the most charismatic players on the Tour has declined the chance of working with one of the more innovative and interesting golf manufacturers. I’m a fan of Adidas Golf too though so there could be some Villegas inspired goodness making its way into my wardrobe I suppose.

154 - Ship Ahoy!

How to ruin a golf tournament in one easy step: invite American’s to spectate. Over four days fans respectfully observed the British Open, appreciative of the difficulties facing the professionals as they battled the Old Course at St Andrews. Then the yanks pipe up.

Polite clapping is replaced by the moronic battle cry of ‘in the hole’ when Tiger Woods tees off at the 12th even though the pin is 350 yards away and he is hitting into a 30mph wind. Camilio Villegas’s tee shot was sent on its way with ‘Lets go gators’, bellowed by some dolt from across the pond.

I was so sick to death of hearing moronic screams from American’s every time Woods hit the ball that I ended up muting the TV. The over the top shouts and yelps almost ruined the whole tournament for me.

I was thrilled to see the challenge from Woods fade on the last day, not because I didn’t want the great man to be battling it out to win his third Open at St Andrews, but because I knew the coverage would be focussed elsewhere on the course away from the boorish masses from the other side of the Atlantic.

In contrast to the fans, the American players were polite and respectful throughout the tournament; even the joy vacuum that is Eldrick was humble when he was getting interviewed. Tom Watson was the consummate gentleman as ever; he is an absolute credit to the sport and his country.

The BBC cornered Stewart Cink, Ricky Barnes, John Daly, Rickie Fowler, Mark Calcavecchia and Phil Mickelson over the weekend and all expressed their honor at taking part in a special event at a special venue, they talked about how privileged they felt to be playing there. If only the fans were so restrained.

I’m all for fans cheering on their hero or compatriot but I think it should be done with a degree of respect and humility, something completely missing from the loud mouthed minority that felt the need to howl whenever an American touched the ball at St Andrews.

123 - Shots Of The Week: Waste Management Phoenix Open...