Monday, February 7, 2011
Two Gloves after a double @ 17 to dash hopes of win: "This hurts"
Tommy Gainey came to the drivable par-4 17th at TPC Scottsdale Monday one shot out of the lead, meaning one good drive could put a first PGA TOUR win squarely in view.Moments later he putted out for a devastating triple-bogey seven after two penalty strokes. His drive came in hot but hugging the greenside lake, hitting a red stake and caroming into the water. After a drop he faced a sidehill chip, which also found the water.
“You see what I made on the hole; I made a 7. Next time it’ll be a little different story.”
Gainey was at the top of the leaderboard throughout the weather-plagued event, opening with a 63 and following with rounds of 65 and 68. But in the fourth round he sputtered with bogeys at 11 and 12, just before the end of Sunday’s play, then Monday he birdied 15 but missed other opportunities.
The 17th hole then not only derailed his chances at a win but hit him in the pocket, as it dropped him into a tie for eighth. That paid $164,700, whereas a par-par finish would have paid nearly $200,000 more.
“For three rounds I played really good, and today, I don’t know what to say, I just played awful,” Gainey said. “But I guess I’ve just got to deal with it. You’ve got to win with class and you’ve got to lose with class, so I’m trying to deal with that right now.”
Gainey has a runner-up finish to his credit, at the 2008 Children’s Miracle Network Classic. He’ll go to the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am and try to continue the good play he enjoyed for most of the week at TPC Scottsdale.
“It’s going to sting for a couple days. It’s going to sting for a couple days,” Gainey said. “Hopefully I’ll be ready come Thursday first round of Pebble. I should be ready to play. But for the next couple of days, this hurts.”
American army officer won chance to play with Tiger in Dubai pro-am
An American army officer serving in war-torn Afghanistan has won the chance to play with Tiger Woods in the Dubai Desert Classic pro-am on Wednesday.
Lt. Col. Michael Rowells, who has a nine handicap and is deployed currently with the 401st Army Field Support Brigade, beat 16,000 other amateur golfers in a draw ahead of the tournament's traditional curtain raiser at the Emirates Golf Club.
"I am thrilled and can't believe my luck," Rowells said in a statement.
"I registered with little hope of actually being selected," he said. "Miracles do happen, and I am overwhelmed with the prospect of playing ... with Tiger. Truly a dream come true."
Woods' father Earl did two tours during the Vietnam War as a member of the U.S. Army Special Forces, rising to the rank of lieutenant colonel. It was his second tour that shaped the latter part of his life.
He met Kultida Punsawad, who was working as a receptionist in Thailand, and married her in 1969. He fought alongside Lt. Col. Nguyen T. Phong of the South Vietnamese army, a friend he nicknamed "Tiger" because of his courage and bravery.
Earl Woods promised Tiger Phong that he would name a son after him.
Lt. Col. Michael Rowells, who has a nine handicap and is deployed currently with the 401st Army Field Support Brigade, beat 16,000 other amateur golfers in a draw ahead of the tournament's traditional curtain raiser at the Emirates Golf Club.
"I am thrilled and can't believe my luck," Rowells said in a statement.
"I registered with little hope of actually being selected," he said. "Miracles do happen, and I am overwhelmed with the prospect of playing ... with Tiger. Truly a dream come true."
Woods' father Earl did two tours during the Vietnam War as a member of the U.S. Army Special Forces, rising to the rank of lieutenant colonel. It was his second tour that shaped the latter part of his life.
He met Kultida Punsawad, who was working as a receptionist in Thailand, and married her in 1969. He fought alongside Lt. Col. Nguyen T. Phong of the South Vietnamese army, a friend he nicknamed "Tiger" because of his courage and bravery.
Earl Woods promised Tiger Phong that he would name a son after him.
Celebrites playing @ Pebble Beach this week
Celebrity list for AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am
Anthony Anderson Actor, "The Bernie Mac Show", "The Departed"
Harris Barton Former NFL offensive lineman
Bill Belichick New England Patriots coach
Chris Berman ESPN sportscaster
Michael Bolton Grammy-award winning singer
Drew Brees New Orleans Saints quarterback
Matt Cain San Francisco Giants pitcher
Brandi Chastain Professional soccer player
Eric Close Actor, "Without a Trace"
Kevin Costner Actor/Producer/Director
Oscar de la Hoya Professional boxer
Tom Dreesen Comedian
Herman Edwards Former NFL player, coach
Jackie Flynn Comedian
Kenny G Grammy-award winning instrumentalist
Andy Garcia Actor, "Ocean's Eleven", "The Untouchables"
Oliver Hudson Actor, "Rules of Engagement"
Joe Kernen Talk show host
George Lopez Comedian/Actor
Toby Mac Grammy-award winning recording artist
Bill Murray Comedian, "Caddyshack", "Groundhog Day"
Craig T. Nelson Actor, "Coach", "Parenthood"
Chris ODonnell Actor, "Batman & Robin", "NCIS: Los Angeles"
Maury Povich Talk show host
Ray Romano Actor/Comedian
Tony Romo Dallas Cowboys quarterback
Kurt Russell Actor, "Escape from New York", "Overboard"
Kelly Slater Professional surfer
Clay Walker Country music singer
Anthony Anderson Actor, "The Bernie Mac Show", "The Departed"
Harris Barton Former NFL offensive lineman
Bill Belichick New England Patriots coach
Chris Berman ESPN sportscaster
Michael Bolton Grammy-award winning singer
Drew Brees New Orleans Saints quarterback
Matt Cain San Francisco Giants pitcher
Brandi Chastain Professional soccer player
Eric Close Actor, "Without a Trace"
Kevin Costner Actor/Producer/Director
Oscar de la Hoya Professional boxer
Tom Dreesen Comedian
Herman Edwards Former NFL player, coach
Jackie Flynn Comedian
Kenny G Grammy-award winning instrumentalist
Andy Garcia Actor, "Ocean's Eleven", "The Untouchables"
Oliver Hudson Actor, "Rules of Engagement"
Joe Kernen Talk show host
George Lopez Comedian/Actor
Toby Mac Grammy-award winning recording artist
Bill Murray Comedian, "Caddyshack", "Groundhog Day"
Craig T. Nelson Actor, "Coach", "Parenthood"
Chris ODonnell Actor, "Batman & Robin", "NCIS: Los Angeles"
Maury Povich Talk show host
Ray Romano Actor/Comedian
Tony Romo Dallas Cowboys quarterback
Kurt Russell Actor, "Escape from New York", "Overboard"
Kelly Slater Professional surfer
Clay Walker Country music singer
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Tiger no longer most powerful athlete
Pounded and distracted by scandal, Tiger Woods has lost his longtime No. 1 ranking on the Businessweek.com Power 100.Ever since the Power 100 was launched in 2007, Tiger Woods has held the top spot. Not this year. Shaken by scandal and struggling on the fairways, Woods is no longer America's most powerful athlete, as measured on and off the field.
He's still, however, the highest-paid. In 2010 he earned an estimated $70 million, almost 30 percent higher than the next-best-paid athlete, golf rival Phil Mickelson, who took home more than $53.8 million. But Woods's earnings came primarily from endorsements, with the big purses going to others. That left his income down 32 percent from the more-than $103 million he generated in 2009. Unless he can regain his game—and the trust of fans and advertisers—his earnings are likely to keep plummeting.
Woods wasn't the only big star to drop in the rankings because of negative publicity. LeBron James slid from the No. 2 spot on last year's Power 100, to No. 11. When he announced on live TV last July that he'd be taking his "talents" from Cleveland to Miami, numerous fans soured on him—including many far from Ohio. While the Miami Heat are having a good year, James may need to digest further crow before he can reconquer Madison Avenue and Main Street.
"If you walk into a buzz saw of negativity, then you just paid for that, so marketers are cautious," says Tony Ponturo, a consultant who see things from the sponsors' side after spending years managing Anheuser-Busch's $700 million sports marketing budget. "[The athletes] that consistently have the right profile of the corporate and human citizen are the ones that are being sought after right now."
Who, then, is the new No. 1 atop the 2011 Power 100? That honor goes to the Indianapolis Colts' Peyton Manning, popular among fans and advertisers—and one heck of a quarterback.
How did pro golfers stack up in the power 100?
Here's a list of the pro golfers that made the power 100 and their ranking...enjoy
Tiger Woods
Power 100 rank: 3
Rank last year: 1
Sport: PGA golf
Age: 35
Most recent notable achievement: Won 2008 U.S. Open
Earnings: $71.3 million
Key sponsors: Nike, EA Sports, Tag Heuer
Why he's on the list: Tiger Woods is still Tiger Woods and money is still money. He topped our estimated money list at $70 million in endorsements last year, dominated golf during the last decade, and remains the PGA career money leader by a long shot. Still, sex scandals tend to hurt earnings and unquestionably damaged Woods's performance. Dropped by such big sponsors as Accenture, he fell in our rankings—by only two places.
Phil Mickelson
Power 100 rank: 4
Rank last year: 3
Sport: PGA golf
Age: 40
Most recent notable achievement: 2010 win at the Masters
Earnings: $53.8 million
Key sponsors: Barclays, Callaway, KPMG, ExxonMobil, Rolex
Why he's on the list: Beyond the big money that goes along with big golf wins, Phil Mickelson gave sports fans the heart-warming sports miracle of the year when he won his third Masters. Waiting for him at the 18th green was his wife, Amy, recovering from surgery for breast cancer. CBS announcer Jim Nantz commented on the win—and Tiger Wood's problems—when he said: "That's a win for the family."
Lee Westwood
Power 100 rank: 21
Rank last year: Unranked
Sport: PGA Golf
Age: 37
Most recent notable achievement: Second at 2010 Masters and second at 2010 Open Championship
Earnings: $15.5 million
Key sponsors: Jaguar, Ping, UPS, Audemars Piguet
Why he's on the list: The runner-up at two major championships last year, Lee Westwood is the world's top-ranked golfer. He isn't in the stratosphere with Tiger and Mickelson because the majors remain elusive, but Westwood's endorsements added up to an estimated $12 million last year.
Jim Furyk
Power 100 rank: 28
Rank last year: 50
Sport: PGA Golf
Age: 40
Most recent notable achievement: 2010 FedEx Cup Champion and PGA Tour Player of the Year
Earnings: $15.8 million
Key sponsors: Srixon, Exelon, Johnny Walker
Why he's on the list: Although Jim Furyk slept through an important tee time and nearly lost out on the FedEx Cup, golf's everyman rallied and claimed the top spot in the PGA Tour last year. He was second in winnings, with $4.8 million, and won more tournaments than any other golfer.
Steve Stricker
Power 100 rank: 59
Rank last year: Unranked
Sport: PGA Golf
Age: 43
Most recent notable achievement: Won 2010 John Deere Classic
Earnings: $9.2 million
Key sponsors: Titleist, NYSE Euronext
Why he's on the list: Steve Stricker is like a fine aged wine. After more than a decade of middling rankings and average performance, he missed qualifying for the PGA Tour in 2005 and spent some quality time hitting balls out of a trailer in Madison, Wisc. In the past two years, his true flavor emerged as he finished back-to-back seasons in the PGA Tour's top five. Another stint in the trailer and Stricker might be able to taste a major.
Luke Donald
Power 100 rank: 87
Rank last year: Unranked
Sport: PGA Golf
Age: 33
Most recent notable achievement:
Earnings: $9.6 million
Key sponsors: Polo Ralph Lauren, Mizuno
Why he's on the list: A perennial contender, with finishes as high as third in the majors, English golfer Luke Donald is currently ranked ninth in the Official World Golf Ranking. He's not as well-known in the U.S., but Donald is raking in endorsements from the likes of Polo Ralph Lauren.
Ernie Els
Power 100 rank: 93
Rank last year: Unranked
Sport: PGA golfer
Age: 41
Most recent notable achievement: Won 2010 Arnold Palmer Invitational
Earnings: $11 million
Key sponsors: Callaway, SAP
Why he's on the list: South African Ernie Els was third on the PGA's earnings list in 2010, with $4.6 million. He's fifth all-time, with more than $40 million earned, and still going strong after 20 years in golfing. Els won the South African Open Championship in December and capped off a good year when he was voted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.
Tiger Woods
Power 100 rank: 3
Rank last year: 1
Sport: PGA golf
Age: 35
Most recent notable achievement: Won 2008 U.S. Open
Earnings: $71.3 million
Key sponsors: Nike, EA Sports, Tag Heuer
Why he's on the list: Tiger Woods is still Tiger Woods and money is still money. He topped our estimated money list at $70 million in endorsements last year, dominated golf during the last decade, and remains the PGA career money leader by a long shot. Still, sex scandals tend to hurt earnings and unquestionably damaged Woods's performance. Dropped by such big sponsors as Accenture, he fell in our rankings—by only two places.
Phil Mickelson
Power 100 rank: 4
Rank last year: 3
Sport: PGA golf
Age: 40
Most recent notable achievement: 2010 win at the Masters
Earnings: $53.8 million
Key sponsors: Barclays, Callaway, KPMG, ExxonMobil, Rolex
Why he's on the list: Beyond the big money that goes along with big golf wins, Phil Mickelson gave sports fans the heart-warming sports miracle of the year when he won his third Masters. Waiting for him at the 18th green was his wife, Amy, recovering from surgery for breast cancer. CBS announcer Jim Nantz commented on the win—and Tiger Wood's problems—when he said: "That's a win for the family."
Lee Westwood
Power 100 rank: 21
Rank last year: Unranked
Sport: PGA Golf
Age: 37
Most recent notable achievement: Second at 2010 Masters and second at 2010 Open Championship
Earnings: $15.5 million
Key sponsors: Jaguar, Ping, UPS, Audemars Piguet
Why he's on the list: The runner-up at two major championships last year, Lee Westwood is the world's top-ranked golfer. He isn't in the stratosphere with Tiger and Mickelson because the majors remain elusive, but Westwood's endorsements added up to an estimated $12 million last year.
Jim Furyk
Power 100 rank: 28
Rank last year: 50
Sport: PGA Golf
Age: 40
Most recent notable achievement: 2010 FedEx Cup Champion and PGA Tour Player of the Year
Earnings: $15.8 million
Key sponsors: Srixon, Exelon, Johnny Walker
Why he's on the list: Although Jim Furyk slept through an important tee time and nearly lost out on the FedEx Cup, golf's everyman rallied and claimed the top spot in the PGA Tour last year. He was second in winnings, with $4.8 million, and won more tournaments than any other golfer.
Steve Stricker
Power 100 rank: 59
Rank last year: Unranked
Sport: PGA Golf
Age: 43
Most recent notable achievement: Won 2010 John Deere Classic
Earnings: $9.2 million
Key sponsors: Titleist, NYSE Euronext
Why he's on the list: Steve Stricker is like a fine aged wine. After more than a decade of middling rankings and average performance, he missed qualifying for the PGA Tour in 2005 and spent some quality time hitting balls out of a trailer in Madison, Wisc. In the past two years, his true flavor emerged as he finished back-to-back seasons in the PGA Tour's top five. Another stint in the trailer and Stricker might be able to taste a major.
Luke Donald
Power 100 rank: 87
Rank last year: Unranked
Sport: PGA Golf
Age: 33
Most recent notable achievement:
Earnings: $9.6 million
Key sponsors: Polo Ralph Lauren, Mizuno
Why he's on the list: A perennial contender, with finishes as high as third in the majors, English golfer Luke Donald is currently ranked ninth in the Official World Golf Ranking. He's not as well-known in the U.S., but Donald is raking in endorsements from the likes of Polo Ralph Lauren.
Ernie Els
Power 100 rank: 93
Rank last year: Unranked
Sport: PGA golfer
Age: 41
Most recent notable achievement: Won 2010 Arnold Palmer Invitational
Earnings: $11 million
Key sponsors: Callaway, SAP
Why he's on the list: South African Ernie Els was third on the PGA's earnings list in 2010, with $4.6 million. He's fifth all-time, with more than $40 million earned, and still going strong after 20 years in golfing. Els won the South African Open Championship in December and capped off a good year when he was voted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.
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