Thursday, March 31, 2011
Ryo Ishikawa to give all 2011 winning to Japan relief effort
Ryo Ishikawa, the biggest name in Japanese golf, has announced he is giving all his winnings this season to the earthquake relief fund in his home country.
The 19-year-old told reporters at Augusta National, where he will play his third Masters next week, that he will also be donating £750 for every birdie he makes during the year.
"I know recovery in the quake-affected areas will take a long time - I'd like to strive together with the victims in recovery efforts," he said. "I have enough money to spend for my golf. I still have savings - I believe this is the most positive way for me to spend money."
Ishikawa has already earned over £3.3million from the Japanese Tour alone since turning professional three years ago, and has a string of lucrative sponsorship deals.
He won his first title on the circuit as a 15-year-old amateur and has had eight more since, including The Crowns last year after a closing 58 - the lowest round on any major tour in history.
The earthquake struck while he was competing at the WGC-Cadillac Championship in Miami three weeks ago. He was in second place after an opening 65, but after speaking to his family and watching coverage of the tragedy he dropped back to 42nd place.
"It's beyond being a distraction for me - I'm worried for the whole country of Japan," he said at the time.
"The fact that I was finally able to communicate with my parents did help me feel so much better. I just tried to focus, but it is a battle out there for me.
"Sendai is quite far way from where my parents live. From the Tokyo area it's some 250 miles away.
"It is not possible to block something of this magnitude out completely, but I understand that in the position that I am, together with the other star athletes from Japan and other sporting areas, we can provide encouragement and hope for the people of Japan by myself doing the job."
Monday, March 28, 2011
Why does Tiger's success matter?
-Peter Kerasotis
Why does Tiger Woods matter, even when he doesn't ... like, say, this past week at the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill in Orlando, where Tiger finished out of the hunt, tied for 24th?
Here's why.
Because everytime I cover a golf tournament, it doesn't matter if it's a golf fan, a nominal fan, or a non-fan, people always ask me the same two questions:
1) Who's leading?
2) Where's Tiger?
People want to know how he's doing, even when he's not doing well. To not write about how he did, and where he's at, would frankly be irresponsible.
I guarantee you that back in the 1920s, when people would ask how the New York Yankees did, their other question (and maybe even their first won) was how Babe Ruth did, even when the mighty Babe struck out.
Here's why else Tiger Woods matters.
He and Michael Jordan are our two greatest athletes of this past quarter century -- two absolutely iconic figures who are probably the most recognizable sports figures in the world.
Jordan, in case you haven't noticed, is no longer playing basketball.
Tiger, on the other hand, is not only still playing golf, he is four majors away from tying Jack Nicklaus for most ever. Conceivably all four could happen this year. Yes, he is 35, with more sand occupying the bottom of his hourglass, but still. Next week we're going to celebrate the 25-year anniversary of Nicklaus winning the Masters at age 46, which was also the last major he won. So if you go by that criteria, Tiger has 11 years to win five majors and become the greatest ever.
As it is, he is the greatest of his generation, far and away better than anyone else, which means he matters ... even when he doesn't.
As I wrote the other day, there are two types of people:
1) Those who are obsessed with Tiger Woods.
2) Those who are obsessed over the obsession with Tiger Woods.
Either way, we're obsessed.
We also have to write about Tiger Woods at Bay Hill because of this simple fact: He has won the Arnold Palmer Invitational a staggering six times, more than any other golfer in the 33-year history of the tournament. If it was Joe Snaphook who'd won it six times, we'd have to mention in every story how ol' Joe is playing, even if he isn't playing well. And on top of winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational six times, Tiger also won it in back-to-back years the last two times he played in it -- in 2008 and 2009. Since this was his first time back since then, we have to mention in every story how he's playing, even if he wasn't playing well.
And here's why else Tiger matters.
Although he's no longer the world's No. 1 player, he is still the world's top-ranked golfer from America. So, you know, you sort of should mention how the country's top-ranked player is playing.
But beyond that, Tiger still matters because nobody has stepped forward and made us forget about how great he is.
If we saw anything these past several weeks, as the PGA Tour swung through the Sunshine State, it's that nobody really wants the spotlight. Oh, golfers will tell you otherwise, but most of them are fine with finish near the top instead of at the top. They're perfectly content with collecting a nice six-figure paycheck from a week's work and move on to the next tournament, leaving the spotlight behind.
Sunday's final pairing at the Arnold Palmer Invitational -- Martin Laird and Spencer Levin -- shot 75 and 76, respectively, in that closing rond. Pathetic. Laird's 75, with him leaking oil all over the place, was the worst closing score by a winner in the 33-year history of that tournament. Once again, pathetic.
And the only reason why Laird could win with a closing 75 is because nobody else wanted to win it. Every time someone got the lead, or got close to the lead, they treated it like it was the front spot in an execution line.
I can't confirm this, but it wouldn't surprise me if every caddie out there had a barf bag for his golfer. Everyone, of course, except for Tiger's caddie.
Tiger, you see, loves the spotlight, loves the pressure. The great ones do. And so far, none of these so-called up-and-comers on the PGA Tour have demonstrated the kind of moxie that separates being really good to being really great.
Tiger was really great. I mean really, really great.
If anything, when you look around at the state of the PGA Tour now, we're reminded at just how hard and just how great he was to have won 71 PGA Tour events and 14 majors by the age of 33.
Will he be great again?
It's the storyline going forward.
Which is why Tiger Woods matters ... even when he doesn't.
Why does Tiger Woods matter, even when he doesn't ... like, say, this past week at the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill in Orlando, where Tiger finished out of the hunt, tied for 24th?
Here's why.
Because everytime I cover a golf tournament, it doesn't matter if it's a golf fan, a nominal fan, or a non-fan, people always ask me the same two questions:
1) Who's leading?
2) Where's Tiger?
People want to know how he's doing, even when he's not doing well. To not write about how he did, and where he's at, would frankly be irresponsible.
I guarantee you that back in the 1920s, when people would ask how the New York Yankees did, their other question (and maybe even their first won) was how Babe Ruth did, even when the mighty Babe struck out.
Here's why else Tiger Woods matters.
He and Michael Jordan are our two greatest athletes of this past quarter century -- two absolutely iconic figures who are probably the most recognizable sports figures in the world.
Jordan, in case you haven't noticed, is no longer playing basketball.
Tiger, on the other hand, is not only still playing golf, he is four majors away from tying Jack Nicklaus for most ever. Conceivably all four could happen this year. Yes, he is 35, with more sand occupying the bottom of his hourglass, but still. Next week we're going to celebrate the 25-year anniversary of Nicklaus winning the Masters at age 46, which was also the last major he won. So if you go by that criteria, Tiger has 11 years to win five majors and become the greatest ever.
As it is, he is the greatest of his generation, far and away better than anyone else, which means he matters ... even when he doesn't.
As I wrote the other day, there are two types of people:
1) Those who are obsessed with Tiger Woods.
2) Those who are obsessed over the obsession with Tiger Woods.
Either way, we're obsessed.
We also have to write about Tiger Woods at Bay Hill because of this simple fact: He has won the Arnold Palmer Invitational a staggering six times, more than any other golfer in the 33-year history of the tournament. If it was Joe Snaphook who'd won it six times, we'd have to mention in every story how ol' Joe is playing, even if he isn't playing well. And on top of winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational six times, Tiger also won it in back-to-back years the last two times he played in it -- in 2008 and 2009. Since this was his first time back since then, we have to mention in every story how he's playing, even if he wasn't playing well.
And here's why else Tiger matters.
Although he's no longer the world's No. 1 player, he is still the world's top-ranked golfer from America. So, you know, you sort of should mention how the country's top-ranked player is playing.
But beyond that, Tiger still matters because nobody has stepped forward and made us forget about how great he is.
If we saw anything these past several weeks, as the PGA Tour swung through the Sunshine State, it's that nobody really wants the spotlight. Oh, golfers will tell you otherwise, but most of them are fine with finish near the top instead of at the top. They're perfectly content with collecting a nice six-figure paycheck from a week's work and move on to the next tournament, leaving the spotlight behind.
Sunday's final pairing at the Arnold Palmer Invitational -- Martin Laird and Spencer Levin -- shot 75 and 76, respectively, in that closing rond. Pathetic. Laird's 75, with him leaking oil all over the place, was the worst closing score by a winner in the 33-year history of that tournament. Once again, pathetic.
And the only reason why Laird could win with a closing 75 is because nobody else wanted to win it. Every time someone got the lead, or got close to the lead, they treated it like it was the front spot in an execution line.
I can't confirm this, but it wouldn't surprise me if every caddie out there had a barf bag for his golfer. Everyone, of course, except for Tiger's caddie.
Tiger, you see, loves the spotlight, loves the pressure. The great ones do. And so far, none of these so-called up-and-comers on the PGA Tour have demonstrated the kind of moxie that separates being really good to being really great.
Tiger was really great. I mean really, really great.
If anything, when you look around at the state of the PGA Tour now, we're reminded at just how hard and just how great he was to have won 71 PGA Tour events and 14 majors by the age of 33.
Will he be great again?
It's the storyline going forward.
Which is why Tiger Woods matters ... even when he doesn't.
German Sandra Gal tops Shin to win the Kia Classic
Sandra Gal won the Kia Classic on Sunday to become the second German winner in LPGA Tour history, beating second ranked Jiyai Shin with a two foot birdie putt on the final hole. The 25-year-old Gal made the winning putt after Shin's five-foot birdie attempt caught the right edge and spun out. Gal closed with a 2-under 71 to finish at 16-under 276 on the Industry Hills Golf Club course at Pacific Palms.
She set up the winning birdie with a wedge shot on the par-5 18th. Tina Fischer is the only other Germany champion. She won the 2001 Asahi Ryokuken International. Shin finished with a 73.
Stephanie Sherlock of Barrie, Ont., was the top Canadian after slipping with a 76 and finished tied for 32nd, 17 strokes off the pace.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
New book of John Daly leaves nothing to the imagination
Through the years, we've learnt nothing should surprise a about John Daly and his excesses in life, be it drinking, gambling, trashing hotel rooms - not to mention his four failed marriages.He wrote about much of it in his book, My Life in and out of the Rough, but a new book has been penned by his fourth wife, Sherrie, who has not been without controversy herself as she spent five months in jail for her part in a drug ring.
According to early reviews in the US, sections of the book are in the "far too much information" category, such as the time he returned from Germany to his Arkansas home to check the progress of interior decorators. They'd painted the kitchen walls the wrong colour so, Sherrie writes: "In front of everyone, in front of his own mother, John whipped it out and started peeing all over the wall."
No doubt the book will sell, as there is a morbid fascination with the flawed genius who has never fulfilled his potential.
Wie can't keep pace of Shin @ the Kia Classic
Jiyai Shin left everyone in the mud at the Kia Classic yesterday. Honolulu's Michelle Wie sank in it over her final four holes at Industry Hills Golf Club.
Wie went into the rain-delayed second round in third place and had a share of fourth through 14 holes. But she bogeyed three of her final four holes to fall into a tie for eighth, far back of Shin.
Wie finished with a 2-over-par 75. Her two-day total of 3-under 143 leaves her nine behind Shin. The world's second-ranked female golfer was four ahead of Sandra Gal when play was suspended with Gal halfway through her round.
Shin is six shots clear of everybody else after a phenomenal 9-under 64 yesterday. It was a career low in relation to par for Shin, who beat out Wie for rookie of the year in 2009.
The second round was delayed 3 hours to wait out the rain, which provided soft greens, casual water and a splash behind every shot and landing on the fairway. Half the field will try to finish its second round this morning, including four golfers in the top 10. The third round will follow after the cut is made.
Hilo's Kimberly Kim is in danger of missing it at 6 over. She also struggled through the final holes, bogeying two of her last three to shoot 77.
Wie's day was anything but boring from the beginning. The world's 11th-ranked player drove the 282-yard 10th hole while Juli Inkster was lining up her putt in the group ahead. Wie's ball rolled up the green to the top of the slope, then seemed to see Inkster and roll back down to the bottom level.
"I was so surprised it even got there," Wie said. "I was like, 'My bad, I hit the cart path.' I guess that's one way of getting on the green."
The Punahou graduate whacked her eagle putt up the hill, but even that wasn't hard enough. It rolled back down again. Her next putt barely made the top and stopped 5 feet short of the hole. She missed that, four-putting her first hole for bogey.
"It was a harder putt than I would have had with a wedge," Wie said. "I hit that (first) putt really hard."
Just like Thursday, she bounced back quickly, blasting another drive about 50 yards from the 11th hole and hitting her wedge within 3 feet for birdie.
A bogey on the 15th left her 1 over for the day and 4 under for the tournament when she made the turn. After tentative putts earlier, she drained a 15-foot birdie putt with authority at No. 2 to get back to 5 under, then launched another approach to 2 feet on the fourth to grab a share of fourth.
Bogeys at Nos. 6, 7 and 9 erased all that and more.
"One shot here, one shot there, just kind of grinding out there ...," she said. "I got unlucky on a couple holes at the end, stuck on a branch on (No.) 9. A little unlucky and a couple bad shots."
Wie did interviews with The Golf Channel in English and J Golf in Korean after the bottom dropped out of her day. Then she said she needs a lot of patience and some low numbers this weekend to catch Shin.
The leader has played the front nine in 11 under the first two days. She already has five wins on the LPGA Tour, and 26 internationally. Maybe more impressive, Shin has finished in the top 10 in more than half her starts and finished last year ranked No. 1.
Wie went into the rain-delayed second round in third place and had a share of fourth through 14 holes. But she bogeyed three of her final four holes to fall into a tie for eighth, far back of Shin.
Wie finished with a 2-over-par 75. Her two-day total of 3-under 143 leaves her nine behind Shin. The world's second-ranked female golfer was four ahead of Sandra Gal when play was suspended with Gal halfway through her round.
Shin is six shots clear of everybody else after a phenomenal 9-under 64 yesterday. It was a career low in relation to par for Shin, who beat out Wie for rookie of the year in 2009.
The second round was delayed 3 hours to wait out the rain, which provided soft greens, casual water and a splash behind every shot and landing on the fairway. Half the field will try to finish its second round this morning, including four golfers in the top 10. The third round will follow after the cut is made.
Hilo's Kimberly Kim is in danger of missing it at 6 over. She also struggled through the final holes, bogeying two of her last three to shoot 77.
Wie's day was anything but boring from the beginning. The world's 11th-ranked player drove the 282-yard 10th hole while Juli Inkster was lining up her putt in the group ahead. Wie's ball rolled up the green to the top of the slope, then seemed to see Inkster and roll back down to the bottom level.
"I was so surprised it even got there," Wie said. "I was like, 'My bad, I hit the cart path.' I guess that's one way of getting on the green."
The Punahou graduate whacked her eagle putt up the hill, but even that wasn't hard enough. It rolled back down again. Her next putt barely made the top and stopped 5 feet short of the hole. She missed that, four-putting her first hole for bogey.
"It was a harder putt than I would have had with a wedge," Wie said. "I hit that (first) putt really hard."
Just like Thursday, she bounced back quickly, blasting another drive about 50 yards from the 11th hole and hitting her wedge within 3 feet for birdie.
A bogey on the 15th left her 1 over for the day and 4 under for the tournament when she made the turn. After tentative putts earlier, she drained a 15-foot birdie putt with authority at No. 2 to get back to 5 under, then launched another approach to 2 feet on the fourth to grab a share of fourth.
Bogeys at Nos. 6, 7 and 9 erased all that and more.
"One shot here, one shot there, just kind of grinding out there ...," she said. "I got unlucky on a couple holes at the end, stuck on a branch on (No.) 9. A little unlucky and a couple bad shots."
Wie did interviews with The Golf Channel in English and J Golf in Korean after the bottom dropped out of her day. Then she said she needs a lot of patience and some low numbers this weekend to catch Shin.
The leader has played the front nine in 11 under the first two days. She already has five wins on the LPGA Tour, and 26 internationally. Maybe more impressive, Shin has finished in the top 10 in more than half her starts and finished last year ranked No. 1.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Michelle Wie 2 back @ the Kia Classic
Hawaii golfer Michelle Wie shot a 5-under par to take third place in the first round of the Kia Classic in California Thursday.Wie carded seven birdies and two bogeys at the Industry Hills Golf Club at Pacific Palms.
She is two strokes behind the leader, Amanda Blumenherst. Sandra Gal is in second place at 6-under par.
Wie is looking for her third win on the LPGA Tour and the first of the season. Her last win was at the 2010 CN Canadian Women's Open.
The Hawaii golfer is also KIA's golf representative. This week, she and KIA put a specially designed and autographed golf bag up for auction. The money will go to the Keep A Breast Foundation.
Hilo's Kimberly Kim is also in the field. She shot a 2-over par 74. Kim carded two birdies and five bogeys.
This is Kim's first year on the tour. The rookie earned her tour card at qualifying school last year.
Blair O'Neal from the Big Break makes 1st LPGA debut
Blair O'Neal, best known for her appearances on the Golf Channel's Big Break played in her first LPGA Tour event Thursday at the Kia Classic.O'Neal struggled to a first round 81, that included 7 bogeys, 1 double and a single birdie on the short par 4 10th.
O'Neal is currently 15 behind first round leader Amanda Blumenherst.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Monday, March 21, 2011
Bubba Watson latest of PGA pros to donate to Japan
Count Bubba Watson among the most recent PGA TOUR players pledging their support to the relief effort for the victims of the deadly earthquake and tsunami in Japan.
Watson just finished his final round of 68 at the Transitions Championship. And before he left the Copperhead Course, Watson found a PGA TOUR official and gave him a check for $50,000 made out to the American Red Cross.
Ryuji Imada, who was born in Hiroshima, got the ball rolling this week when he left a handwritten note in every locker saying he was planning on donating $1,000 per birdie at the Transitions Championship to the relief effort. He said he would appreciate his fellow TOUR members joining him in support.
A day later, K.J. Choi, who once played the Japan Tour, pledged $100,000 to the American Red Cross.
Several other players joined Imada in pledging per birdie – including Brandt Snedeker, who has birdied his first two holes Sunday and stands one shot off the lead. He pledged $500 for each one (he currently has made 14) and his sponsor Bridgestone Golf will also make a donation.
Bobby Gates also pledged $250 per birdie and just finished the Transitions Championship with 12.
Watson just finished his final round of 68 at the Transitions Championship. And before he left the Copperhead Course, Watson found a PGA TOUR official and gave him a check for $50,000 made out to the American Red Cross.
Ryuji Imada, who was born in Hiroshima, got the ball rolling this week when he left a handwritten note in every locker saying he was planning on donating $1,000 per birdie at the Transitions Championship to the relief effort. He said he would appreciate his fellow TOUR members joining him in support.
A day later, K.J. Choi, who once played the Japan Tour, pledged $100,000 to the American Red Cross.
Several other players joined Imada in pledging per birdie – including Brandt Snedeker, who has birdied his first two holes Sunday and stands one shot off the lead. He pledged $500 for each one (he currently has made 14) and his sponsor Bridgestone Golf will also make a donation.
Bobby Gates also pledged $250 per birdie and just finished the Transitions Championship with 12.
Karrie Webb wins in Phoenix
After a wild day at Wildfire Golf Club, the first RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup essentially came down to a chip-and-putt contest between Karrie Webb and Brittany Lincicome.And Webb won, getting up and down for par on the 18th to cap a 6-under 66 that left her at 12-under for the tournament.
Then she watched TV coverage as Lincicome chipped 10 feet past the hole from almost the same spot and missed the putt coming back that would have forced a playoff.
It was only Lincicome's second bogey in 54 holes at Wildfire, and it couldn't have come at a worse time.
"Chipping is something I've struggled with my whole entire life, so it doesn't surprise me that chip didn't work out too well," she said. "I hit a great putt. I thought that was going in - just a little more speed, and it would have held its line. It's golf, I guess."
It is a fickle game, and Lincicome flirted with trouble throughout her round of 2-under 70.
Angela Stanford, who took a 3-shot lead into the final round, struggled with her putter, 3-putting three greens en route to a 3-over 75 that left her at 9 under and in fifth.
Paula Creamer birdied seven holes in a 10-hole stretch, but like Webb and Lincicome, came up short on her approach at 18. She matched Webb's 66 but finished tied for second at 11 under. Cristie Kerr was fourth at 10 under after a 69.
For Webb, the victory not only continued a hot start to the 2011 season, but also her history of success in the Valley.
She won her second consecutive LPGA event, following up her victory at the HSBC Champions in Singapore and already has her first multiple-victory season on tour since 2006.
Webb also has won back-to-back events in Phoenix - sort of.
She was the last player to win an LPGA event in Phoenix when she captured the J Golf Phoenix International at Papago Park in 2009. There was no LPGA event in the Valley in 2010 when a sponsor couldn't be found. Webb also won 10 years earlier at Moon Valley Country Club in the Standard Register Ping.
"It's my third win here in Phoenix, I love coming out to the desert and I hope to be playing out here and have a tournament for many years to come out here," Webb said.
Webb, whose $200,000 share of the $1 million charity purse, said she will split the money between the Christopher Reeve Spinal Cord Injury and Paralysis Foundation and the Japan relief effort.
Half of the prize money will be directed to charities designated by the top 10 finishers, and organizations aiding Japan will get more than $198,000 of the $500,000.
The tournament also honored the tour's 13 founding players, and three - Marilynn Smith, Louise Suggs and Shirley Spork - were alongside the 18th green as Webb finished.
Suggs, her Florida neighbor and friend, gave her a swat on the rear and joked, "I taught you everything you know."
Said Webb: "It's such a great honor to win this tournament. The concept of this tournament has been great since it was announced. I don't think we celebrate enough our founders and where we come from.
"I couldn't be more honored to win an event, because I wouldn't have had the career that I've had and the life that I've had if it weren't for those 13 women.
"The only time I felt really nervous was on 17 and 18, especially that chip and putt on 18. I think it was more how special it would feel to win this event."
Evidently Suggs hasn't taught Webb everything, though. Webb won for the 38th time on the LPGA Tour, most among active players. Suggs won 58 times.
And Webb admitted she had no expectations of winning Sunday, starting the day 6 shots off the lead. She figured she had a chance when she got to the 11th tee and saw Golf Channel broadcaster Val Skinner and a cameraman standing nearby.
"I thought, 'What's she doing here?' I figured I must be close to the lead," Webb said.
Friday, March 18, 2011
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Oliver Wilson leads Lake Nona to Tavistock Cup victory
Oliver Wilson fired a 65 on Tuesday at Isleworth Country Club to lead Lake Nona to a dominating victory in the Tavistock Cup.
Wilson’s 65 was the low score of the stroke-play portion of the competition and earned the Englishman the Payne Stewart Salver Award. Lake Nona finished with a two-day total of 43 under that was 16 strokes better than second-place Albany.
The home team, Isleworth, finished at 25 under while Queenwood had a total of 18 under. The second round of the two-day competition consisted of the combined total in relation to par of the six members on each team.
All six players on the Lake Nona team broke par for a total of 18 under on Tuesday – no more than three players on any of the other three teams managed to do the same. Robert Allenby had the low score for Isleworth with a 66 while Adam Scott of Queenwood shot 67 and Albany’s Ian Poulter and Henrik Stenson of Lake Nona each shot 68s.
Tiger Woods, who played for Albany, had the only other sub-70 score at 69.
Following are Tuesday’s scores:
Score Team Players
43 under Lake Nona
Oliver Wilson 65
Henrik Stenson 68
Graeme McDowell 70
Ross Fisher 70
Peter Hanson 70
Retief Goosen 71
27 under Albany
Ian Poulter 68
Tiger Woods 69
Arjun Atwal 71
Justin Rose 73
Ernie Els 74
Trevor Immelman 78
25 under Isleworth
Robert Allenby 66
J.B. Holmes 70
Stuart Appleby 73
Sean O’Hair 73
Lee Janzen 77
Brian Davis 78
18 under Queenwood
Adam Scott 67
Thomas Bjorn 70
David Howell 71
Darren Clarke 74
Soren Kjeldsen 74
Paul McGinley 74
Wilson’s 65 was the low score of the stroke-play portion of the competition and earned the Englishman the Payne Stewart Salver Award. Lake Nona finished with a two-day total of 43 under that was 16 strokes better than second-place Albany.
The home team, Isleworth, finished at 25 under while Queenwood had a total of 18 under. The second round of the two-day competition consisted of the combined total in relation to par of the six members on each team.
All six players on the Lake Nona team broke par for a total of 18 under on Tuesday – no more than three players on any of the other three teams managed to do the same. Robert Allenby had the low score for Isleworth with a 66 while Adam Scott of Queenwood shot 67 and Albany’s Ian Poulter and Henrik Stenson of Lake Nona each shot 68s.
Tiger Woods, who played for Albany, had the only other sub-70 score at 69.
Following are Tuesday’s scores:
Score Team Players
43 under Lake Nona
Oliver Wilson 65
Henrik Stenson 68
Graeme McDowell 70
Ross Fisher 70
Peter Hanson 70
Retief Goosen 71
27 under Albany
Ian Poulter 68
Tiger Woods 69
Arjun Atwal 71
Justin Rose 73
Ernie Els 74
Trevor Immelman 78
25 under Isleworth
Robert Allenby 66
J.B. Holmes 70
Stuart Appleby 73
Sean O’Hair 73
Lee Janzen 77
Brian Davis 78
18 under Queenwood
Adam Scott 67
Thomas Bjorn 70
David Howell 71
Darren Clarke 74
Soren Kjeldsen 74
Paul McGinley 74
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Host team Isleworth leads the way @ the Tavistock Cup
Led by the duo of Brian Davis and J.B. Holmes, Team Isleworth has the lead after Monday’s first day of the two-day Tavistock Cup at Isleworth Golf and Country Club.
Davis and Holmes combined in the four-ball format to shoot 12 under, giving Team Isleworth a slim lead in the four-club competition. The three two-man teams for Isleworth combined to shot 30 under.
Team Albany, which includes Tiger Woods, is at 28 under. Team Lake Nona, which includes reigning U.S. Open champ Graeme McDowell, is at 25 under. Team Queenwood, which includes Adam Scott, is at 16 under.
The team of Davis-Holmes tied for the day’s low score along with McDowell and Retief Goosen, who also shot 12 under.
Tuesday’s second day will include single stroke-play results from the 24 players in the field.
TAVISTOCK CUP: MONDAY’S RESULTS
Score Team Players
30 under TEAM ISLEWORTH Brian Davis-J.B. Holmes, 12 under
Lee Janzen-Sean O’Hair, 9 under
Robert Allenby-Stuart Appleby, 9 under
28 under TEAM ALBANY Ian Poulter-Justin Rose, 11 under
Ernie Els-Trevor Immelman, 9 under
Arjun Atwal-Tiger Woods, 8 under
25 under TEAM LAKE NONA Retief Goosen-Graeme McDowell, 12 under
Ross Fisher-Oliver Wilson, 8 under
Peter Hanson-Henrik Stenson, 5 under
16 under TEAM QUEENWOOD Thomas Bjorn-Adam Scott, 7 under
Darren Clarke-David Howell, 5 under
Soren Kjeldsen-Paul McGinley, 4 under
Davis and Holmes combined in the four-ball format to shoot 12 under, giving Team Isleworth a slim lead in the four-club competition. The three two-man teams for Isleworth combined to shot 30 under.
Team Albany, which includes Tiger Woods, is at 28 under. Team Lake Nona, which includes reigning U.S. Open champ Graeme McDowell, is at 25 under. Team Queenwood, which includes Adam Scott, is at 16 under.
The team of Davis-Holmes tied for the day’s low score along with McDowell and Retief Goosen, who also shot 12 under.
Tuesday’s second day will include single stroke-play results from the 24 players in the field.
TAVISTOCK CUP: MONDAY’S RESULTS
Score Team Players
30 under TEAM ISLEWORTH Brian Davis-J.B. Holmes, 12 under
Lee Janzen-Sean O’Hair, 9 under
Robert Allenby-Stuart Appleby, 9 under
28 under TEAM ALBANY Ian Poulter-Justin Rose, 11 under
Ernie Els-Trevor Immelman, 9 under
Arjun Atwal-Tiger Woods, 8 under
25 under TEAM LAKE NONA Retief Goosen-Graeme McDowell, 12 under
Ross Fisher-Oliver Wilson, 8 under
Peter Hanson-Henrik Stenson, 5 under
16 under TEAM QUEENWOOD Thomas Bjorn-Adam Scott, 7 under
Darren Clarke-David Howell, 5 under
Soren Kjeldsen-Paul McGinley, 4 under
Monday, March 14, 2011
Who's the early favorite to win the Masters?
Now inside of a month from the Masters, a handful of guys could be contenders for the first major of the year. But with parity in golf at perhaps an all-time high, which five players seem most likely to take the green jacket?
Nick Watney: The most consistent player of 2011 is Watney. The Doral winner has not finished outside of the top 10 in five starts this year. He’s never finished outside of the top 20 at Augusta, including 7th last year.
Dustin Johnson: Be it working with Butch, finding a flame, or whatever it is, Dustin Johnson looked like the guy that could have won two majors in 2010. If he can play anything like he did at Doral on Saturday and, though the putts didn’t go down, Sunday, then he could be lethal.
Luke Donald: Luke Donald may not have won his second World Golf Championship of the year, but he has been playing some impressive, steady golf. Two top tens in his first three Masters starts, but two missed cuts since in the next three. Forget those.
Phil Mickelson: Though Lefty looked way off in the final round at Doral, Mickelson has won three Masters titles since 2004 – the most in that period. The roars may have come back at Augusta due to a variety of tactics to make the course a little easier, but Mickelson is the guy leading the charge. Experience means the world at Augusta, or at least it does to Mickelson, whose year centers around this tournament.
Tiger Woods: Tiger’s been on the “drive for five” Masters wins since, well, 2005, but he found a fourth place finish last year when he had no business playing major tournament golf. That finish will look even more astounding in time, but keep it in mind when analyzing Woods’ final round 66 at Doral, and a lot of confidence that he is on the right path.
Nick Watney: The most consistent player of 2011 is Watney. The Doral winner has not finished outside of the top 10 in five starts this year. He’s never finished outside of the top 20 at Augusta, including 7th last year.
Dustin Johnson: Be it working with Butch, finding a flame, or whatever it is, Dustin Johnson looked like the guy that could have won two majors in 2010. If he can play anything like he did at Doral on Saturday and, though the putts didn’t go down, Sunday, then he could be lethal.
Luke Donald: Luke Donald may not have won his second World Golf Championship of the year, but he has been playing some impressive, steady golf. Two top tens in his first three Masters starts, but two missed cuts since in the next three. Forget those.
Phil Mickelson: Though Lefty looked way off in the final round at Doral, Mickelson has won three Masters titles since 2004 – the most in that period. The roars may have come back at Augusta due to a variety of tactics to make the course a little easier, but Mickelson is the guy leading the charge. Experience means the world at Augusta, or at least it does to Mickelson, whose year centers around this tournament.
Tiger Woods: Tiger’s been on the “drive for five” Masters wins since, well, 2005, but he found a fourth place finish last year when he had no business playing major tournament golf. That finish will look even more astounding in time, but keep it in mind when analyzing Woods’ final round 66 at Doral, and a lot of confidence that he is on the right path.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Devastation in Japan hits the PGA Tour
All week long, the giant LED screen at the front of the media center had either been tuned to the Golf Channel or ESPN.Friday morning, though, CNN was on, and the disturbing scenes projected over and over where golf normally occupies center stage were of the devastation from the earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan overnight.
The images hit a little closer to home here at Doral where three Japanese players are competing in the World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship. And 44 reporters and photographers from 29 different Japanese media outlets had come to Doral to report on their sports heroes, Ryo Ishikawa, Hiroyuki Fujita and Yuta Ikeda.
Ikeda was so distraught by the news he declined to speak with reporters after he finished off his round of 74 on Friday morning. But he did stop for an interview after shooting 73 on Friday afternoon.
Ikeda’s ties to the tragedy were more direct since he went to Tohoku Fukushi University in Sendai, which sustained some of the worst damage from the quake that registered 8.9 on the Richter scale. And Ikeda’s parents live in Chiba, where an oil refinery was burning.
"It’s tough," Ikeda said. "(Sendai is) my second hometown. I was born and raised in Chiba, but I went to school in Sendai and to see what you had to see on TV was very difficult to take in."
Ikeda first learned of the disaster when he received an e-mail from a friend in Japan about 3 a.m. on Friday morning. The nine-time winner on the Japan Tour has been up ever since, watching the news coverage whenever he could.
"The tough part; the cell phones still are not working in Japan," Ikeda said. "So I made many calls, but everyone I haven’t been able to contact. It doesn’t mean they are not accounted for. It just means I haven’t been able to contact them to make sure they are okay."
Ishikawa learned about the earthquake when he got up Friday and turned on his computer, as he does every morning. His parents live in the Tokyo area, which is about 250 miles from the hardest hit areas of Japan. Even so, the earthquake felt in the country’s capital city was in the realm of 5.0 on the Richter scale.
"I received communication from my father, and the message was, focus on your golf, we are fine, do what you need to do,” Ishikawa said.
Ishikawa tried to follow his dad’s advice at 8:30 a.m. when he returned to TPC Blue Monster to complete the first round. He had six holes to play and made two more birdies — shooting a 65, which is his best round on the PGA TOUR by three strokes.
"Many of the PGA (TOUR) players walked up to me such as Ernie Els and Vijay Singh … and asked how was my family and showed a lot of concern and I appreciated that,” Ishikawa said. “I tried my best to block everything out but as you can imagine, it’s a very tough day.”
Ishikawa was alone in second at 7 under, one stroke behind Hunter Mahan, after the first round. He never got untracked in the second round, though, and shot a 76 that left him tied for 17th, five strokes back. But he refused to blame his play on the tragic events in his homeland.
“It was simply that the Blue Monster decided to be what it’s known to be,” said Ishikawa, who who noted that all the major professional sports have been suspended in Japan. He hopes to continue to play well for his country.
"It is not possible to block something of this magnitude out completely," Ishikawa said. "But I understand that in the position that I am, together with the other star athletes from Japan and other sporting areas, we can provide encouragement and hope for the people of Japan by myself doing the job."
Fujita, who is from Tokyo, saw the footage of the disaster on TV before he resumed his first round at 8:30 a.m. He had not been able to reach his family but found out on the sixth hole everyone was okay.
“When I saw the TV, it’s so disastrous, but I had a tee time, so anyway, I need to go and tee off, and I just did it and tried to concentrate on my own play,” Fujita said.
The news reports and pictures were hard to take in. “I couldn’t believe it,” Fujita said. “It is not in this world.”
Putting problems continue for Woods
If looks or a walk could tell the story then, Tiger Woods’ said plenty on Friday.
On the 18th hole, Woods had a chance to make birdie after hitting his approach shot to just 6 feet. Instead, his ball hit a spike mark and it veered off line. In some ways it was a microcosm of Woods day. In others it was a symbol of his frustration in a round of 2-over 74 that has him nine shots off the lead heading into the weekend.
“Well certainly was not one of my better putting rounds,” said Woods, who took 32 putts. “I had a hard time with the grain.
“You’re not going to have a lot of fun when you’re nine back. I don’t know if a lot of people are very happy with that but I’m not.”
While Woods struggled on the green, he also admitted to being “a little stiff,” which is why he stretched a few times during the round.
He also hit a dropkick snap hook on the second tee that went just 122 yards — and produced a friendly chuckle from playing partners Graeme McDowell and Phil Mickelson.
Still, it all basically came down to putting for the former world No. 1.
“If I just putt normal, I shoot 3- or 4-under par today,” Woods said. “I feel great over the putts. I just can’t hit the putts hard enough. When the rain came in, it totally changed what I saw and felt. I’ve had a hard time making the adjustment.”
On the 18th hole, Woods had a chance to make birdie after hitting his approach shot to just 6 feet. Instead, his ball hit a spike mark and it veered off line. In some ways it was a microcosm of Woods day. In others it was a symbol of his frustration in a round of 2-over 74 that has him nine shots off the lead heading into the weekend.
“Well certainly was not one of my better putting rounds,” said Woods, who took 32 putts. “I had a hard time with the grain.
“You’re not going to have a lot of fun when you’re nine back. I don’t know if a lot of people are very happy with that but I’m not.”
While Woods struggled on the green, he also admitted to being “a little stiff,” which is why he stretched a few times during the round.
He also hit a dropkick snap hook on the second tee that went just 122 yards — and produced a friendly chuckle from playing partners Graeme McDowell and Phil Mickelson.
Still, it all basically came down to putting for the former world No. 1.
“If I just putt normal, I shoot 3- or 4-under par today,” Woods said. “I feel great over the putts. I just can’t hit the putts hard enough. When the rain came in, it totally changed what I saw and felt. I’ve had a hard time making the adjustment.”
Friday, March 11, 2011
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Ten players to watch this week @ Doral
MARTIN KAYMER: Doral marks the young German’s debut as the world’s No.1 player, but he’s deserving of the throne with seven wins in the past 104 weeks that make up the rankings window. Hard to believe that 106 weeks ago, he was just making his WGC debut.LEE WESTWOOD: Former rankings No.1 ran hot-and-cold at last week’s Honda Classic, including a Saturday finish in which he bogeyed each of his final four holes. The English pro hasn’t finished higher than 15th in five starts this year.
GRAEME McDOWELL: If the U.S. Open champ is close to the lead on Sunday, bank on him. McDowell already has two PGA Tour course records in his two Sunday rounds, including last week at Honda. His Sunday scoring average in 2011 stands at 64.33.
TIGER WOODS: Three-time Doral champion has played just one competitive round in the past five weeks — a first-round ouster at the WGC Match Play, courtesy of Thomas Bjorn. His two stroke-play events bring this disconcerting stat: Sunday rounds of 74 and 75.
PHIL MICKELSON: Two top-10 finishes in his first three starts had Mickelson’s up-and-down stock rising, but slipped to 35th in Los Angeles and bounced in the second round of the WGC Match Play. Used last week to help launch arthritis-awareness campaign.
RORY SABBATINI: New Honda Classic champion makes Doral his ninth consecutive start, but has yet to run low on gas. New putter in Sabbatini’s bag helped him zero in on mid-range putts at PGA National. Also tied for fifth one week earlier in Mexico.
Y.E. YANG: Former PGA Championship winner made sure Sabbatini earned his victory, closing a five-shot deficit to one on PGA National’s back nine before falling short. Yang also reached the quarterfinals of the WGC Match Play one week earlier, so he’s humming.
ERNIE ELS: Defending WGC-Doral champion struggled last week at Honda Classic, including an opening 75 and Saturday 78. That prompted him to put in some extra work back home at the Bear’s Club in Jupiter. Sounds awfully similar to last year’s setup.
CHARL SCHWARTZEL: After pushing Els to the crown a year ago, South African took out PGA Tour membership for 2011 and tied for 14th at last week’s Honda. He also happened to be Els’ houseguest last year, but is opting for his own rented digs during this stretch.
GEOFF OGILVY: Three finishes of 21st or better in four starts this season, having missed the season’s first month after cutting his finger on a piece of coral before the Tournament of Champions. The Aussie ended Tiger Woods’ reign at the Blue Monster in 2008.
Tiger sighting @ Doral
Tiger Woods, who missed last year’s Doral while dealing with scandal fallout, turned up on Tuesday to get in an early nine holes of practice.
Woods strolled onto the putting green just before 1 p.m., stroked a handful of putts while chatting with fellow pros, then headed to the No.1 tee for a quick nine with Hunter Mahan and Justin Rose.
Mahan and Rose also are coached by Orlando’s Sean Foley, who accompanied the trio on their round.
Since Doral became part of the WGC lineup, which has no pro-ams, Woods typically had waited until Wednesday to reacquaint himself with the TPC Blue Monster. He’s expected to get in a full practice round Wednesday morning, then address the media near the scorecard area.
Woods also learned he’ll be paired with Phil Mickelson and U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell for the first two rounds. Pairings are determined by world golf rankings, and Woods is sandwiched between No.4 McDowell and No.6 Mickelson.
It will be the first time Woods and Mickelson have played together since Sunday of last year’s BMW Championship. Their most memorable pairing came at Doral, when they dueled in the final Sunday group before Woods emerged victorious by a shot.
Woods strolled onto the putting green just before 1 p.m., stroked a handful of putts while chatting with fellow pros, then headed to the No.1 tee for a quick nine with Hunter Mahan and Justin Rose.
Mahan and Rose also are coached by Orlando’s Sean Foley, who accompanied the trio on their round.
Since Doral became part of the WGC lineup, which has no pro-ams, Woods typically had waited until Wednesday to reacquaint himself with the TPC Blue Monster. He’s expected to get in a full practice round Wednesday morning, then address the media near the scorecard area.
Woods also learned he’ll be paired with Phil Mickelson and U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell for the first two rounds. Pairings are determined by world golf rankings, and Woods is sandwiched between No.4 McDowell and No.6 Mickelson.
It will be the first time Woods and Mickelson have played together since Sunday of last year’s BMW Championship. Their most memorable pairing came at Doral, when they dueled in the final Sunday group before Woods emerged victorious by a shot.
Kaymer's dad surprises the new #1 with personal gift
Martin Kaymer couldn’t have asked for a much better gift after reaching No.1 in the world rankings.Meeting up with his brother and a friend after the WGC Match Play back at his Arizona home, Kaymer was told they needed to make a trip to the airport.
It was there that he was met by his father, Horst, who had hopped a flight from their native Germany to offer his personal kudos.
“I congratulate you for being No.1 in the world,” Horst Kaymer told his son. “Next time in Germany, who knows if you’re still No.1, so I just wanted to take the opportunity to say congratulations.”
The visit lasted only a day, getting in a couple rounds at Whisper Rock before the elder Kaymer climbed back aboard a plane.
“Not a lot of parents do that,” Martin Kaymer said of the surprise. “It was a 30-hour trip for pretty much 24 hours he was there. ... We had a good time together.”
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Tiger plans to visit Korea for amateur golf camp
Former world No. 1 Tiger Woods plans to visit Korea on April 14 to take part in the “Make It Matter” golf camp for junior and amateur golfers, his corporate sponsor Nike Golf said Tuesday.
Woods will first head to China in early April and then make a stop here before hopping over to Japan as part of the same program.
This will be Woods’ first visit to the nation since 2004 when he competed in a skins game with Choi Kyoung-ju, Pak Se-ri and Colin Montgomerie in Jeju Island.
Those wanting to take part in the golf camp, the company said, need to apply at the website http://twtour.nikegolf.co.kr on the Make It Matter homepage, and follow the onscreen instructions.
The company said 100 people will be selected but the venue for the clinic has not been decided.
Before heading to Korea, Woods will compete at the Masters from April 7 to 10.
Woods will first head to China in early April and then make a stop here before hopping over to Japan as part of the same program.
This will be Woods’ first visit to the nation since 2004 when he competed in a skins game with Choi Kyoung-ju, Pak Se-ri and Colin Montgomerie in Jeju Island.
Those wanting to take part in the golf camp, the company said, need to apply at the website http://twtour.nikegolf.co.kr on the Make It Matter homepage, and follow the onscreen instructions.
The company said 100 people will be selected but the venue for the clinic has not been decided.
Before heading to Korea, Woods will compete at the Masters from April 7 to 10.
Mike Weir's woes continue...
Eight-five. It is a bad bowling total, or perhaps the score the Toronto Raptors put up on an off-night.Rarely is it a total score seen on the PGA Tour during a single round, and never by Mike Weir, arguably the best golfer in Canadian history.
But that’s what Weir posted in the second round at the Honda Classic last Friday, 18 holes which included five double-bogeys and were added to a first round 77. In golf vernacular, Weir’s poor play moved him to the bottom of the leaderboard, to a spot referred to as “DFL.” I’ll leave you to figure that one out.
Weir started the season talking about “owning his swing.” Now it looks like his swing has owned him.
How far has the former Masters champ fallen? After returning this year following a lengthy layoff due to an elbow injury, Weir made one cut in five starts. He posted a single round in the 60s this year – a 68 at Spyglass Hill during the AT&T Pebble Beach National -- though more typically he was slamming the trunk of his courtesy car by the end of Friday afternoon after shooting 74. His driving – which has been erratic in recent years – is a disaster, with Weir missing the fairway equally right and left. His stats show him to be basically last among tour players in driving accuracy and distance – a combination that guarantees inflated scores.
Weir’s ball striking problems are both humbling and troubling, but his short game, always the envy of his peers, has also suffered as his confidence wanes. Think of it like a Gold Glove infielder who suddenly can’t hit the curve ball. As the ball player struggles at the plate, eventually his plight works its way into his fielding and he makes some errors on easy plays. Weir, typically a terrific putter, has found his spotty play affecting his short game and he currently sitting at 152 with the flat stick.
Despite not regaining his playing privileges – Weir had five starts as part of an injury exemption to make enough money to match the 125th golfer from last season – he’ll still get plenty of starts throughout the year. And he has two year’s worth of exemptions based on his place on the all-time PGA Tour money list. So he’s not going anywhere – at least not for a couple of years.
There’s an argument among golf pundits about whether Weir made too many changes to his swing in recent years, starting with his decision to leave long-time coach Mike Wilson for a dalliance with “stack and tilt” purveyors Mike Plummer and Andy Bennett. It was under Bennett and Plummer that Weir last played like an elite star – he won in 2007 in Arizona soon after beating Tiger Woods in match play at the Presidents Cup. But Weir felt that stack-and-tilt, with its rigidly principles enforced by its creators, was too restrictive and was limiting his feel for the game, and so he returned to Wilson.
But turning to his former coach wasn’t the solution, and an injury sustained after hitting a tree root last year exacerbated the issue. Weir looked lost before shutting it down at the end of August after a miserable year that was easily his worst since his rookie campaign on the PGA Tour in 1998. At the end of the year Weir said he’d go it alone, but it wasn’t long before he turned to Jim Flick, the type of veteran coach who offers tips in golf magazines. For a guy who has tried the true-and-tested with Wilson, a former David Leadbetter associate, and the new-and-shiny theories of stack and tilt, Flick is truly Old School. Those who understand the nuances of the golf swing suggest Weir is making a difficult transition from the stack-and-tilt swing he embraced to a golf swing that involves his arms and timing.
Swing changes are always difficult – just ask Tiger Woods – and golfers who play through them often face the embarrassment of failing in front of spectators and television cameras. Adding to Weir’s woes is the departure of long-time caddy Brennan Little, who took over the role for Sean O’Hair at the start of the season.
Is Weir finished? It is certainly easily to suggest that’s the case. But he’s only 40, and increasingly golfers on the PGA Tour are playing well into their early fifties. If there’s hope, it might be found in Steve Stricker. From 2003 to 2005, Stricker played horribly, hitting his driver short and wayward. In 2006, after pounding balls in the hope of finding a solution, Stricker reworked his swing to become one of the more accurate drivers on the PGA Tour to go along with his excellent putting. Now 44, Stricker has won six times in his forties since rediscovering the ability to find the fairway.
Of course Stricker is the extreme case – there are certainly more golfers who have faded as they’ve gotten older. Certainly Weir has a lot to overcome – but that’s basically been the model for his career. No one thought he’d make it off the Canadian Tour, but he persevered and fought through seven tries at qualifying school to make the PGA Tour. Once there he lost his tour card after his rookie season, but won qualifying school and took the Air Canada Championship the next year. He outlasted Len Mattiace to win the Masters and rebuilt his golf game to make the 2007 Presidents Cup team.
Given everything he’s been through in the last year, it is easy to say Weir is finished.
But his experience during two decades in professional golf would suggest we don’t write him off quite yet.
Canadian golf retail giant Golf Town to expand into US
Canadian retail chain Golf Town is the latest retailer north of the 49th parallel to take its chances on opening up stores in the U.S. market.
Two weeks after Loblaw Cos. announced it would open stand-alone Joe Fresh apparel boutiques in New York, and as Lululemon and Tim Hortons enjoy new levels of success in their respective stateside ventures, the Toronto-based specialty golf chain has announced it will open five stores in Massachusetts later this month. "We are entering Boston to own it -we will be the largest retailer of golf equipment in market overnight and that is going to have a major impact for us," said Golf Town chief executive Stephen Bebis, who wants to build a minimum of 12 stores in the Greater Boston area before moving into the southern part of New Hampshire. "We are focused on New England right now and our primary goal is to continue to build that other market out. The recession there was really not as impactful as it was in some other markets in the U.S., such as California. Eventually we will start to look at Asia and Europe, but also we would like to look at acquisitions in the U.S. and we will continue to do that."
Two weeks after Loblaw Cos. announced it would open stand-alone Joe Fresh apparel boutiques in New York, and as Lululemon and Tim Hortons enjoy new levels of success in their respective stateside ventures, the Toronto-based specialty golf chain has announced it will open five stores in Massachusetts later this month. "We are entering Boston to own it -we will be the largest retailer of golf equipment in market overnight and that is going to have a major impact for us," said Golf Town chief executive Stephen Bebis, who wants to build a minimum of 12 stores in the Greater Boston area before moving into the southern part of New Hampshire. "We are focused on New England right now and our primary goal is to continue to build that other market out. The recession there was really not as impactful as it was in some other markets in the U.S., such as California. Eventually we will start to look at Asia and Europe, but also we would like to look at acquisitions in the U.S. and we will continue to do that."
Monday, March 7, 2011
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Frank Chirkinian, the Godfather of televised golf dies @ 84
Frank Chirkinian, a pioneer in golf television who dazzled audiences each spring with his production of the Masters Tournament, died Friday at his home in North Palm Beach, Fla. He was 84.
Among the innovations Chirkinian introduced were relation-to-par scoring, multiple cameras, microphones on tees and aerial blimps. He won four Emmy and two Peabody awards during his career, where he was executive producer for golf on CBS from 1959 to 1996.
"He was never afraid to take a chance," Lance Barrow, who succeeded him, said in a televised interview. "Don't be afraid to do something different. Frank set the standard."
Tributes to Chirkinian poured in Friday on the news of his death after a bout with lung cancer.
"Chirkinian made Augusta National what it is today from a television standpoint," six-time Masters winner Jack Nicklaus said. "He made it theater. He was a pioneer with some of the things he did bringing golf to television."
Sean McManus, chairman of CBS Sports, said: "Frank has left a legacy of excellence and creativity in golf broadcasting that will never be equaled and is a true Hall of Famer in all of sports television."
CBS will honor Chirkinian during today's programming, and Jim Nantz will deliver a special tribute during halftime of today's Kansas-Missouri game that begins at noon.
In February, Chirkinian was selected for induction to the World Gold Hall of Fame in the lifetime achievement category. He will be enshrined May 9 along with Ernie Els, Doug Ford, Jumbo Ozaki, former President George H.W. Bush and the late Jock Hutchison.
But it was at the Masters where Chirkinian shined.
His career coincided with the rise of Arnold Palmer, and Chirkinian remembered the first time he saw the four-time Masters champion on television at the Masters.
"Here comes Arnold, at the brow of the hill on 15, and this is my first experience with Arnold," Chirkinian said in a 2004 interview with The Augusta Chronicle . "And you know, the camera either loves you or hates you. The camera fell in love with him, standing there next to his caddie, hitching his trousers, wrinkling his nose, flipping a cigarette to the ground. He hitched his trousers again and grabbed a club from his caddie. And he hits it on the green.
"I thought, 'Holy mackerel, who is this guy?' He absolutely fired up the screen. It was quite obvious this was the star. We followed him all the way."
When asked by Golfweek in a recent interview why the Masters was his favorite event, Chirkinian said: "There was always something special. It's probably the greatest theater in all of sports."
Chirkinian also was a part-time Augusta resident who lived in West Lake and was well known around the city. Chuck Baldwin, owner of French Market Grille, said Chirkinian invested with him in the restaurant business when French Market West opened during the 1990s.
"I had great admiration for him. He was a larger than life kind of person," Baldwin said. "He was just legendary the way he did golf."
Chirkinian also had a fierce temper that earned him the nickname of "The Ayatollah" to his CBS colleagues. He expected, and demanded, perfection.
"I can't think of a better nickname for him," Baldwin said. "He had a very, very soft interior. Gruff exterior, but an extremely generous person. He was a unique individual."
NBC's Jimmy Roberts only worked one time with Chirkinian, when he was with ESPN. The network and CBS split the coverage of the inaugural Presidents Cup in 1996. Sitting President Bill Clinton attended one day and Roberts was asked to interview him in the president's booth.
In the middle of the interview, Chirkinian decided to cut to live golf and barked in Roberts' ear, "You guys do the coverage," meaning Roberts with Clinton as his color commentator.
"I've never done live play by play before," Roberts said. "I don't know who I was more intimidated by -- the leader of the free world at my side or the guy in my ear."
Though Roberts didn't know Chirkinian well, he understands the magnitude of his influence in televised golf.
"He was a giant in our industry," Roberts said. "Suffice to say, all of us -- even those who did not know him -- are feeling a great loss today, and we should. They always say everybody who plays professional golf today should give a piece of their winnings to Arnold Palmer. Every TV golf person owes a debt of gratitude to Frank Chirkinian."
-John Boyette
Mike Weir shots pedestrian 85 in round 2 @ Honda; loses exempt status on PGA Tour
Everyone could see it coming, but when it finally arrived on Friday, it was still hard to believe Mike Weir had fallen so far, so fast.
Just eight years ago, the wiry left-hander from Bright's Grove, Ont., was on top of the world, the winner of one of golf's most prestigious tournaments, the Masters, perhaps the single greatest achievement by a Canadian golfer in history. He went on to win two other tournaments that year, as well as others in 2004 and 2007 for a career total of eight.
On Friday, however, Weir lost his free ride on the PGA Tour when he failed to make the cut at the Honda Classic, ending his full-time exempt status.
The 40-year-old had struggled through two rounds at the Classic, including an opening day 7-over 77 on Thursday, then a horrendous mistake-filled 15-over 85 in Friday's second round. His 22-over total through 36 holes left him in last place for the tournament.
Weir left quickly after the tournament and was not available for comment. A spokesman said he might have something to say about his future in the coming days.
Weir landed in this predicament for a combination of reasons, but primarily because an injury-plagued and injury-shortened season caused him to drop outside the Top 125 on the PGA Tour's money list in 2010. That was the cutoff for the right to play full-time on the tour this year.
As a result of a torn ligament in his elbow, he was granted a medical exemption from having to requalify for the tour last fall. That exemption also gave him the right to play up to five events this year.
The catch was that he had to earn about $225,000, which, when added to his 2010 earnings of $559,000, would give him the equivalent of 125th place on last year's list.
Unfortunately for Weir, his game hasn't been nearly up to par. He missed the cut four times in those five starts, and the only time he made the cut, he was tied for 77th and earned just $10,788 in prize money. That's pretty good for a tie for 77th, but it's a long way from $225,000.
He'll now have to rely on sponsor and other tournament exemptions to compete in tournaments. For example, as a former Masters winner, he has a life-time exemption to play in that major championship. He's also in the field for next week's event in Puerto Rico. There is also an exemption based on being in the Top 50 of the PGA's all-time money list -- Weir is 12th at nearly $27 million U.S. -- but it's one-time only.
All of this only underlines just how far he has slipped. Eight years ago when he won the Masters and two other PGA Tour titles, Weir was solidly in the Top 10 of the world rankings.
His spiral has been a long time in the works. Weir hasn't won on the PGA Tour since 2007 and has missed the cut more than 30 times since then.
His stats going into the Honda Clasic were telling, and pretty ugly: 184th on the PGA Tour in driving average at 265.4 yards; 182nd in driving accuracy; 172nd in greens-in-regulation; 139th in putting average; 182nd in scoring average at 73.8.
Meanwhile, Calgary's Stephen Ames shot a two-over 72 on Friday and is tied for 52nd place at the Honda Classic with 5-over 145. American Kyle Stanley is in top spot after shooting a 4-under 66 Friday. His two-day total is 6-under 134.
Just eight years ago, the wiry left-hander from Bright's Grove, Ont., was on top of the world, the winner of one of golf's most prestigious tournaments, the Masters, perhaps the single greatest achievement by a Canadian golfer in history. He went on to win two other tournaments that year, as well as others in 2004 and 2007 for a career total of eight.
On Friday, however, Weir lost his free ride on the PGA Tour when he failed to make the cut at the Honda Classic, ending his full-time exempt status.
The 40-year-old had struggled through two rounds at the Classic, including an opening day 7-over 77 on Thursday, then a horrendous mistake-filled 15-over 85 in Friday's second round. His 22-over total through 36 holes left him in last place for the tournament.
Weir left quickly after the tournament and was not available for comment. A spokesman said he might have something to say about his future in the coming days.
Weir landed in this predicament for a combination of reasons, but primarily because an injury-plagued and injury-shortened season caused him to drop outside the Top 125 on the PGA Tour's money list in 2010. That was the cutoff for the right to play full-time on the tour this year.
As a result of a torn ligament in his elbow, he was granted a medical exemption from having to requalify for the tour last fall. That exemption also gave him the right to play up to five events this year.
The catch was that he had to earn about $225,000, which, when added to his 2010 earnings of $559,000, would give him the equivalent of 125th place on last year's list.
Unfortunately for Weir, his game hasn't been nearly up to par. He missed the cut four times in those five starts, and the only time he made the cut, he was tied for 77th and earned just $10,788 in prize money. That's pretty good for a tie for 77th, but it's a long way from $225,000.
He'll now have to rely on sponsor and other tournament exemptions to compete in tournaments. For example, as a former Masters winner, he has a life-time exemption to play in that major championship. He's also in the field for next week's event in Puerto Rico. There is also an exemption based on being in the Top 50 of the PGA's all-time money list -- Weir is 12th at nearly $27 million U.S. -- but it's one-time only.
All of this only underlines just how far he has slipped. Eight years ago when he won the Masters and two other PGA Tour titles, Weir was solidly in the Top 10 of the world rankings.
His spiral has been a long time in the works. Weir hasn't won on the PGA Tour since 2007 and has missed the cut more than 30 times since then.
His stats going into the Honda Clasic were telling, and pretty ugly: 184th on the PGA Tour in driving average at 265.4 yards; 182nd in driving accuracy; 172nd in greens-in-regulation; 139th in putting average; 182nd in scoring average at 73.8.
Meanwhile, Calgary's Stephen Ames shot a two-over 72 on Friday and is tied for 52nd place at the Honda Classic with 5-over 145. American Kyle Stanley is in top spot after shooting a 4-under 66 Friday. His two-day total is 6-under 134.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Hall of Famers chime in on the Tiger Woods major debate
Two members of the World Golf Hall of Fame shared the duties as keynote speaker at Thursday’s kickoff luncheon for the HP Byron Nelson Championship.
Each weighed in with a different opinion about Tiger Woods and his quest to break Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 major championships as a professional golfer.
Woods, 35, owns 14 major titles but has not won a PGA Tour event since the 2009 season. This week he fell to fifth in the latest world golf rankings, Woods’ lowest position since May 1997.
Lee Trevino, a Dallas resident and six-time major champion, said he expects Woods to rebound from his current slump — which began shortly after reports of extramarital affairs surfaced in November 2009, and led to Woods’ divorce last year — and eclipse Nicklaus’ mark.
“Yes, I think he’ll break it,” Trevino said. “He might not be as intimidating as he was ... but he hasn’t lost his game. He’s still a good player and he’s got desire.”
Lanny Wadkins, a Dallas resident and 2009 Hall of Fame enshrine, is less convinced.
“I think it’s 50/50,” Wadkins said of Woods’ odds to reach 19 major titles and surpass Nicklaus. “I really do. The thing that everybody forgets about how impressive it was to do what Jack did is that when he was winning those 18 majors, he was beating ... Hall of Famers.”
By contrast, Wadkins said Woods’ most hard-earned major titles have come in playoff victories over journeymen Rocco Mediate (2008 U.S. Open) and Bob May (2000 PGA) and have occurred in an era where the next-best player, Phil Mickelson, has won only four career majors.
“That’s hollow,” Wadkins said of Woods’ resume when compared to Nicklaus’.
Wadkins, 61, said Woods — who has tweaked his swing three times as a pro, most recently under the tutelage of Sean Foley — “still has a lot of hangover from (former instructor) Hank Haney left in his swing,” which hinders his current results.
Trevino, 71, suggested that Woods return to the swing he used from 1999 to 2002, when he won seven of 11 majors in one stretch (including four in a row) while working with former instructor Butch Harmon.
“My opinion with Tiger is that once he gets his mind set straight and quits messing with all these instructors ... he’ll (pass Nicklaus),” Trevino said. “My suggestion to Tiger Woods, and I don’t know if it will ever happen, is he’s got to look at the film of when he started winning all those tournaments and go right back to what he was doing and get rid of all these people (tweaking his current swing).”
Trevino and Wadkins, the 1973 Nelson champ, shared the dais to promote the 2011 Nelson. Jason Day, a Fort Worth resident, is the defending champion and one of the highest-profile commitments on a list that includes Dustin Johnson, D.A. Points, Jhonattan Vegas, Johnson Wagner, Charley Hoffman and Rory Sabbatini, a Fort Worth resident who took the 2009 Nelson title.
Vegas, Points and Wagner have won tour events this season. Johnson, ranked No. 14 in the world, is the highest-ranked player on the Nelson commitment list.
Each weighed in with a different opinion about Tiger Woods and his quest to break Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 major championships as a professional golfer.
Woods, 35, owns 14 major titles but has not won a PGA Tour event since the 2009 season. This week he fell to fifth in the latest world golf rankings, Woods’ lowest position since May 1997.
Lee Trevino, a Dallas resident and six-time major champion, said he expects Woods to rebound from his current slump — which began shortly after reports of extramarital affairs surfaced in November 2009, and led to Woods’ divorce last year — and eclipse Nicklaus’ mark.
“Yes, I think he’ll break it,” Trevino said. “He might not be as intimidating as he was ... but he hasn’t lost his game. He’s still a good player and he’s got desire.”
Lanny Wadkins, a Dallas resident and 2009 Hall of Fame enshrine, is less convinced.
“I think it’s 50/50,” Wadkins said of Woods’ odds to reach 19 major titles and surpass Nicklaus. “I really do. The thing that everybody forgets about how impressive it was to do what Jack did is that when he was winning those 18 majors, he was beating ... Hall of Famers.”
By contrast, Wadkins said Woods’ most hard-earned major titles have come in playoff victories over journeymen Rocco Mediate (2008 U.S. Open) and Bob May (2000 PGA) and have occurred in an era where the next-best player, Phil Mickelson, has won only four career majors.
“That’s hollow,” Wadkins said of Woods’ resume when compared to Nicklaus’.
Wadkins, 61, said Woods — who has tweaked his swing three times as a pro, most recently under the tutelage of Sean Foley — “still has a lot of hangover from (former instructor) Hank Haney left in his swing,” which hinders his current results.
Trevino, 71, suggested that Woods return to the swing he used from 1999 to 2002, when he won seven of 11 majors in one stretch (including four in a row) while working with former instructor Butch Harmon.
“My opinion with Tiger is that once he gets his mind set straight and quits messing with all these instructors ... he’ll (pass Nicklaus),” Trevino said. “My suggestion to Tiger Woods, and I don’t know if it will ever happen, is he’s got to look at the film of when he started winning all those tournaments and go right back to what he was doing and get rid of all these people (tweaking his current swing).”
Trevino and Wadkins, the 1973 Nelson champ, shared the dais to promote the 2011 Nelson. Jason Day, a Fort Worth resident, is the defending champion and one of the highest-profile commitments on a list that includes Dustin Johnson, D.A. Points, Jhonattan Vegas, Johnson Wagner, Charley Hoffman and Rory Sabbatini, a Fort Worth resident who took the 2009 Nelson title.
Vegas, Points and Wagner have won tour events this season. Johnson, ranked No. 14 in the world, is the highest-ranked player on the Nelson commitment list.
McIlroy says Woods is no longer a dominant force
Irish golf star Rory McIlroy is scheduled to face off against the new World Match Play champion Luke Donald in Florida - but it's the match between McIlroy and Tiger Woods that fans are really waiting for.
Woods is currently in preparation for next week's world championship in Miami, but McIlroy and Donald are already in Palm Beach Gardens for the Honda Classic.
The 21-year-old from Northern Ireland told the press he believes Woods is playing "like an ordinary golfer" now and he doubts whether the old magic will ever return.
Said McIlroy: "I remember getting nervous when I first met him. I was 15. There was a presence about him. There still is to some extent, but when you're on the golf course you simply block it out. But Tiger is not playing as well as he was even a couple of years ago, never mind going back to the late 1990's and early 2000's, when he was at his best."
Sounds like the young Irishman believes he has this one in the bag.
Woods is currently in preparation for next week's world championship in Miami, but McIlroy and Donald are already in Palm Beach Gardens for the Honda Classic.
The 21-year-old from Northern Ireland told the press he believes Woods is playing "like an ordinary golfer" now and he doubts whether the old magic will ever return.
Said McIlroy: "I remember getting nervous when I first met him. I was 15. There was a presence about him. There still is to some extent, but when you're on the golf course you simply block it out. But Tiger is not playing as well as he was even a couple of years ago, never mind going back to the late 1990's and early 2000's, when he was at his best."
Sounds like the young Irishman believes he has this one in the bag.
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