Greetings from sunny Spain.

And it is work too! Maybe not hard work but I write this weeks newsletter from PGA Catalunya near Barcelona. I travelled this morning (Thursday) for a photo shoot with Golf World magazine and home tomorrow.

I have written on and off for magazines for nearly twenty years and for Golf World for just over a year. This shoot guarantees a presence for at least two more years. I will let you know a publish date as soon as I know.

Don't forget to hand in a Captain's ball (like the one pictured), if you find one before the end of September. 

Not only do you get a reward for finding one, the Captains charity benefits with a £10 donation from the Captain Tony Negal himself. 





The TP tour event held here on Tuesday over the East course attracted a small, but quality field. The course stood up admirably to finest these mini tour participants could throw at it. Ex European tour player Jamie Little won the tournament with a three under par 68, Craig Sutherland was the runner up with a 69. 

The Venner Salver was played last week with 23 pairs contesting the trophy playing mixed foursomes on a day when net par was difficult to achieve. Julia and Jeff Wright took the trophy beating Bassey and Mel Dunbar on countback, both couples shooting 35pts. Maureen Stock and John Collett took third spot with 34pts. 

A great score from Pam Owen took the Stableford and MacMillan Spoon. The total of 43pts saw Pam win the Silver Section by four points from Julie Richardson who shot 39pts.

It was a closer affair in the Bronze section as a fine score of 40pts just pipped Annie Butcher who was runner up with 40 pts. 

The nine hole Stableford, last Thursday, gave golfers in both sections a chance for some competition and a chance to chip away at their handicap on a beautiful sunny day. In the ladies competition, Pat Lambourne took first place from Jude MacKenzie on countback both having shot 18pts. In the Men's, Nick Durey took first place again on countback from Nick Clegg, both having shot 19pts. 

The fourth round of the Doug Bushell Seniors' Competition was held on the East Course on 21 July and was won by Martyn Baker with 41 points. David Assirati was second on countback with 41 points and David Cook was third with 38 points. 

After 4 rounds the leaders for the Doug Bushell Shield with the best 3 rounds are Ian Haggart with 111 points closely followed by Bernard Hawes with 110 points and Martyn Baker with 109 points. The final round is on Monday 4 August. 

The Winner of the Competition (best 3 cards from 5) will represent the Club here at Sundridge Park on Wednesday 17th September when we host the Kent Golf Veterans League Singles Championship.

The world's best players travel to Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio this week for the third World Golf Championship event of 2014. Tiger Woods defends his title at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.

There's a limited field for this event, just 76 players and no cut. The participants have qualified either by being ranked in the top-50 in the world, by playing in the last Presidents Cup, or by winning significant tournaments around the world over the last 12 months. Tiger Woods has been a dominant force at Firestone since he won the inaugural instalment of this event as a WGC tournament (then the NEC Invitational) back in 1999. He defended his title in 2000 and made it three in a row in 2001. He's won the event five more times since then. 

Last year he played a phenomenal second round of 61 to open a seven shot lead that, in the end, was the margin of his victory over Keegan Bradley and Henrik Stenson. Woods needs another good week at Firestone if he's to push towards a Ryder Cup place and a spot in the 2014 FedEx Cup playoffs. He's currently 70th on the Ryder Cup points list and a lowly 215th on the FedEx Cup standings. 

A strong European contingent will compete at Firestone CC, headed by Open Champion Rory McIlroy. He's looking to build on his third Major victory and continue his push back towards the Number 1 spot on the Official World Golf Ranking. "I just want to think ahead and go forward and try to win as many tournaments and as many Majors as I can, because I feel like there's a lot more left in me," he said. 

Other Europeans looking to grab a share of the significant purse and World Ranking points on offer include: Sergio Garcia who was tied second at Hoylake; Justin Rose who won at Royal Aberdeen the week before the Open; and World Number 3, Henrik Stenson. With only five tournaments left to qualify, this tournament will be critical for those on the fringes of Paul McGinley's Ryder Cup team. Stephen Gallacher, Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, Graeme McDowell and Miguel Angel Jimenez will all be desperately keen for a lucrative week to boost their chances of appearing at Gleneagles. 

At 7,400 yards with a par of only 70, Firestone will present a tough challenge to the top players. Last season the scoring average was 1.051 shots over par. The South Course at Firestone was originally designed by Bert Way back in 1929 but it was remodelled by the great Robert Trent Jones in 1960. In 1976, the course hosted the first World Series of Golf, won by Jack Nickaus. Until 1998 the tournament was known by that name, before it became a WGC event in 1999. The weather forecast for the week looks to be decidedly changeable and there's a threat of thunderstorms and rain. Expect some delays. 

Player Watch

Henrik Stenson - Tied second here last year so it's a course he clearly enjoys. He has five top-seven finishes in his last six European Tour starts including a tied fourth in the U.S. Open. 
Matt Kuchar - Tied fourth last week in Canada, Kuchar has finished in the top-10 in this event twice in the last four years. 
Hideki Matsuyama - The young Japanese star won at the Memorial and put in solid performances in both the U.S. Open and Open Championships.