mount juliet & royal portrush top our 2012 polls - Backspin Golf ...

All the talk in the countdown toThe Masters at Augusta in Aprilmay be about Rory McIlroy andother rising young superstars,but don’t bet against golf’sseasoned stars producing a fewmore surprises and certainly don’tbet against Padraig Harringtonadding to his collection of majortitles in the future.Above:22-year-old Rory McIlroy is golf’snew poster boy following his USOpen victory last summer. Yetwithin a month or Rory’s win atCongressional, a player almosttwice his age, Darren Clarke,was crowned Open champion.Photo of McIlroy. taken during theChina Golf Challenge, courtesy ofFast Track Agency, Hong Kong.Stricker is one of three players in their 40’s- Phil Mickelson and K.J. Choi are the others- who started the 2012 season amongst thetop-15 in the world.Players turning 40 have one big advantageover youth, a great wealth of experience...apoint further highlighted by EuropeansThomas Bjorn, Miguel Angel Jimenez, PaulLawrie and, of course, Darren Clarke, whohave all found a new lease of life in their 40’s.All the talk in the countdown to TheMasters at Augusta in April may be about RoryMcIlroy and other rising young superstars, butdon’t bet against golf’s seasoned starsproducing a few more surprises and certainlydon’t bet against Padraig Harrington addingto his collection of major titles in the future.Oldest winner of each MajorTHE MASTERS - 1986 - AugustaJack Nicklaus – 46 years, 2 months and 23 daysUS OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP - 1990 - MedinahHale Irwin – 45 years and 15 daysOPEN CHAMPIONSHIP - 1867 - PrestwickOld Tom Morris – 46 years and 99 daysUSPGA CHAMPIONSHIP - 1968 - Pecan ValleyJulius Boros – 48 years, 4 months and 18 daysBACKSPIN | 7