Ian Poulter’s protestations that he couldn’t schedule room to represent GB&I in this week’s Vivendi Trophy might have been more justifiable had he not spent the early part of the week out partying with his pals.

Make no mistake, the Englishman – a controversial wildcard pick for last year’s Ryder Cup – has once again dropped a major clanger, and the European captain for next year’s match, Colin Montgomerie, was quite right to call him out on it.

Monty has been in France this week overseeing what was the Seve Trophy, contested this year by Paul McGinley’s GB&I team and a Continent of Europe side captained by Thomas Bjorn.

For Montgomerie, the match is a good opportunity to see some of the players he will take charge of at the Celtic Manor next year. Read more…

Breaking news: the Scottish Qualifications Authority has just announced changes to next year’s Higher Mathematics paper.

From 2010, candidates who can successfully explain the FedEx Cup points system will be awarded an automatic ‘A’ pass and sent a letter of congratulations from PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem, the (cough) brains behind the contentious play-offs.

Okay, so I’m being a tad facetious. But let’s face it, anyone who understands the FedEx formula must either be on a parallel wavelength to Finchem and his cronies or Carol Vorderman.

Despite a number of revisions since it was introduced in 2007, the FedEx Cup is still golf’s Rubik’s Cube. Read more…

Nike Golf have asked bunkered to help them find 10 GOLFERS

to test their new winter apparel collection.

Each golfer will be kitted out in the latest Nike Golf waterproofs, shoes, gloves and hats and asked to play five rounds of golf in wet weather conditions between October 1 and November 15.

They will then be asked to report back their findings after each round and upload their comments to www.bunkered.co.uk, with final views/opinions published in the December issue of bunkered.

To launch this winter challenge, the 10 golfers will need to be available to

meet at the Old Course, St Andrews on Tuesday, September 29 to receive their winter apparel from Nike Golf and have their team photograph taken on the Swilcan Bridge.

Each golfer selected will not only get to KEEP the Nike gear, they will receive TWO complimentary tickets to the final day of this year’s Alfred Dunhill Links!

So, if you would like to take part in the Nike Golf Every Conditions Challenge, click the link below and fill in the form no later than Monday, September 14. The lucky 10 golfers will be notified by Wednesday, September 16.

To enter, visit www.bunkered.co.uk/nikechallenge

If the Solheim Cup has shown us anything, it’s the way in which the game’s great team competitions can bring the best out in even the most unlikely of heroes or, indeed, heroines.

Many media commentators raised an eyebrow or two when, against popular opinion, Michelle Wie was selected as one of only two wildcards by team captain Beth Daniels.

The starlet has shown very little in the way of the prodigious talent that made her a world star at the tender age of 13 and most people turned to the negative influence of her reportedly ‘over-bearing’ parents as the prime reason for her failure to hit the dizzying heights that she looked destined to achieve. Read more…