Networked Golfer

U.S. Open Picks and Lee Westwood

2010-06-14T12:13:00.002-04:00

Way back when, I called the resurgence of Lee Westwood. It's one of the few prognostications I've gotten correct over the life of this blog. Westwood is playing as well as anyone right now, and with a few more wins, it could be said that he's even playing better than Phil Mickelson.

Since the tournament following Bethpage in 2009, Lee Westwood has played in 26 tournaments. Out of those 26, he's top-tenned it 20 times with only one MC. Those are Tigeresque (pre-Thanksgiving) statistics. Look for Westwood to be in the mix at Pebble Beach this week. He's certain to be one of the favorites, and he'll no doubt follow-through. His tee to green game, positive attitude, and confidence after yesterday's playoff victory in Memphis are a lethal combination.

Other than Westwood, my top picks for the Open are, in no particular order:
1) Phil Mickelson
2) Graeme McDowell
3) Tim Clark
4) Jim Furyk
5) Luke Donald

I also could see a bomber like Angel Cabrera or Dustin Johnson hanging in there. People like to talk about Pebble's lack of length and small greens, but those who can rip it will have as good a chance as the tiddlers.

Thoughts on the Tiger Debacle

2009-12-01T20:58:00.003-05:00

Since Tiger Woods is stonewalling the press, few concrete details are coming to light about his Thanksgiving night game of Cadillac pinball.

However, here at Networked Golfer, I can give you one thing you've never heard before: Tiger's marital issues were predicted by my friend Jack months ago. Jack first told me this summer that there was trouble in the Woods household. He said it was the only way to explain his erratic behavior on the golf course.

I laughed it off the first couple of times Jack mentioned it (I distinctly remember him bringing it up in early November during the HSBC in China), but on November 17th Jack said it again in response to an email I sent to him and a few others.

The subject of the email was "Tonty on the Rampage," and it had a link to the clip of Tiger throwing his club in Australia (for those of you who don't know what a Tonty is, look up Tiger's middle name). Jack's simple yet prescient response was, "I think he has problems at home."

After that assured reply, we sent a few emails back and forth about what a tight prenup he must have, etc. One of my other friends chimed in with, "What makes (Jack) think there are problems at home? He sure does a good job covering up the rumors if that's the case." Doesn't that statement seem so naive now?

Thanksgiving happened, and Jack looks like The Great Karnak. Remember -- Jack knew nothing about the alleged mistresses that are now coming out of the woodwork. He made an assessment based on his observation of Tiger's increasingly boorish behavior and stuck with the assessment. I give Jack a lot of credit for seeing through all of the muck surrounding the Tiger love fest and calling it like he saw it.

I will now make a prediction about Tiger's future, and it's only partially connected to his "problems at home." He will lose his grip on #1 in the world in the next 18 months, and it's going to be a three-way fight for it. The leading contender to take his crown is Rory McIlroy. Second is Phil Mickelson, and third is Padraig Harrington.

These guys must smell blood in the water. Phil has rarely been able to kick Tiger while he's down, but if he can keep putting the way he did during the fall, expect him to go on the attack. We all know that Harrington has the guts to shine when Tiger's on the mend, and if you haven't noticed, his swing changes are really paying dividends. They will continue to pay off in 2010.

But the guy who really has things rolling is young McIlroy. He's a complete player who doesn't appear to ruffle under the spotlight. 2009 was like an internship to see whether he could be a big-time player. I would submit that he succeeded; he nearly won the European Tour Order of Merit, and he cracked the top 10 in the world rankings. He also made the cut in all of the majors, contending in two of them.

McIlroy is not a phony "young gun." He's the real deal. And, he's probably hearing footsteps. The footsteps of Rickie Fowler. I'm not going to make any predictions about Fowler just yet, but he will play a large role in Tiger's future, whether Tiger sorts out his domestic issues or not. Count on it.

A Look at the Top 10 at the Masters Midpoint

2009-04-10T19:59:00.005-04:00

Through 36 holes, Augusta National has yielded some very good scores. Often, those at or near the top at the midpoint of the tournament are not the same names who are still there on Sunday evening. However, this leaderboard is very strong, so I would imagine that at least a few of the top ten will have staying power.

Here they are with number of PGA Tour and European Tour victories and major championships (unless otherwise noted):

Name / Victories / Majors
Chad Campbell 4 / 0
Kenny Perry 13 / 0
Angel Cabrera 5 / 1
Todd Hamilton 2 / 1
Tim Clark 3 / 0
Anthony Kim 2 / 0
Rory Sabbatini 4 / 0
Shingo Katayama 26 (Japan) / 0
Jim Furyk 13 / 1
Sergio Garcia 15 / 0

Though there are only three majors between these players, all of them save Anthony Kim (who is very young and had only played in five majors before this one), have multiple high finishes in majors. Famously, Sergio has been second in three majors.

Of the players within two shots of Sergio are major champions such as Vijay Singh (3), Geoff Ogilvy (1), Phil Mickelson (3), Tiger Woods (14), Padraig Harrington (3), and Sandy Lyle (2). Though I don't expect Lyle to slip on the green jacket, all of these top golfers are easily within striking distance of the lead.

Even though there are many multiple winners in the history of the Masters, it has become more and more difficult to predict the winner lately. Why? Many experts point to the changes made to the course, particularly the added length. I think that only has a minimal impact on the relative unpredictability of the winners. I would suggest that the worldwide parity in golf (excluding Tiger Woods' dominance) is greater than ever before, so many more players are capable of winning big tournaments.

Though I've rarely made a good golf prediction, if I had to wager money on two players tonight who currently reside in the top ten, I would bet on Tim Clark and Anthony Kim. Campbell and Perry haven't sold me yet, but I liked how they both birdied 18 today. No matter who wins, I just hope it's someone who makes on ton of birdies down the stretch, rather than backing into it while the rest of the leaders blow up around him.

Oliver Ross Fisher Wilson

2009-04-09T11:31:00.006-04:00

I've been meaning to write about this topic for months, and since Ross Fisher is leading the Masters Tournament (after only 14 holes), I thought this would be the opportune moment.

I want to set the record straight about three British golfers that cause many people massive confusion. Unless you pay attention to the European Tour like I do, I can understand why people can't sort out these players.

They are:
1) Ross Fisher
2) Oliver Wilson
3) Oliver Fisher

Ross Fisher is the most accomplished player of the three. He's 28 years old, hailing from England. He's won twice on the European Tour and has had several high finishes in big tournaments, including a 4th at the recent WGC Match Play. He's currently ranked 33rd in the world. Somehow he was left off of the 2008 Ryder Cup team. He's a big guy who hits it a ton.

Oliver Wilson is the next best of the three. Also 28 and from England, Wilson has a storied amateur career and recently played very well in the Ryder Cup, going 1-1-0 in a losing effort. Though he has not broken through with his maiden victory, he's come heartbreakingly close on many occasions. I haven't counted, but I think he's been second in close to ten tournaments. It's a matter of time before the 39th ranked player in the world wins something.

Oliver Fisher is the youngest by far (he's only 20), and he may have the brightest future. He played on the 2005 Walker Cup at the age of 16 and has had some solid finishes in Europe, including a 2nd in Spain last year. He's ranked 266th in the world, but being that he's from England and has a name that's a combination of Ross Fisher and Oliver Wilson, he's going to need to play some special golf for casual fans to figure out who he is.

All three of these golfers are currently playing in the shadows of Paul Casey, Ian Poulter, Luke Donald, Lee Westwood, and Justin Rose. However, if you can keep them straight, following their careers can prove to be worthwhile.

Beechtree Is Closing - See Footage Here

2008-11-18T14:48:00.004-05:00

Beechtree Golf Club in Aberdeen, MD is closing for good on December 7th. It is one of Tom Doak's early designs, and its conversion into a housing development is going to be a huge loss for the Mid-Atlantic public golfing scene.

I played it last week for the third and final time. We were able to sneak in 27 bittersweet holes before it got too dark to continue. I'm going to post some pictures of the course later, but for now, the following video will have to suffice. It contains footage our our day (as well as a few clips from another course), so for those of you who have never played Beechtree, this is a pretty good look at some of the holes.

One More Video of Me Golfing

2008-08-20T21:17:00.004-04:00

This was my third crack at using my new software to edit video. I think it has some nice touches, and it's short enough that you won't be bored.

Anyone who is a student of the game will see that my swing has plenty of "issues." I've been working on not getting stuck at the top, and my game has improved since the time this footage was shot. Enjoy, and be thankful for the swing you possess. Or, be thankful that I haven't caught you on tape!

New Golf Highlights Video Posted to Youtube

2008-08-18T10:10:00.003-04:00

I bought a new computer last week, so the first thing I did was load some golf footage I had taken since January. I have lots of B roll left over, so I'll be making some shorter videos later. I'm just getting the hang of the editing software, so expect more professional clips in the future. This first one has scenes from Atlantic City CC, Harbor Pines, Hilton Head, Swan Point, the Vineyards at Renault Winery, and the Atlantis.

Below is my first crack at becoming golf's answer to Cecil B. DeMille.

WGC, Firestone South, and Tire Companies

2008-07-30T17:17:00.004-04:00

What's up with tire companies and golf? I realized today that this week's World Golf Championship event in Akron, OH is sponsored by Bridgestone and played at Firestone. Mix in the Goodyear Blimp, and it's all tires, all the time. Does anyone else find that to be a little weird?

Anyway, I played Firestone's South Course about three years ago, and it was decent. It gets a lot of attention because it has held so many big tournaments over the years. But for anyone who has seen/played a lot of good golf courses, it is lacking in several ways. First, it's not exciting. There's hardly any elevation change, and most of the holes are dead straight. All of the holes are tree-lined, and it becomes difficult to distinguish between holes after a while. There are some excellent green complexes, and the conditioning is immaculate, but that's about it. It's currently ranked 57th on my list of favorite golf courses I have played.

Incidentally, I played Firestone's North Course four years ago, and I found it to be more interesting and fun to play than the South. The property is much more varied, doglegs are sprinkled in (it's not just long and straight), the par 3s are superior, and they have some cool holes around and over water. Though I'd like to give the South Course another try, the North is superior in my mind. It's ranked 42nd on my list, and it very well could move up if I were to play it again.

"On Paper" the Americans Are Toast at the Ryder Cup

2008-07-20T23:03:00.006-04:00

After Padraig Harrington romped his way to victory Sunday at the Open Championship with a stellar four under par on his final nine, I thought to myself, "Other than Tiger and Phil, hasn't it been a while since an American won a major?"

Of course I turned to trusty Wikipedia to find the answer. I initially thought it was Todd Hamilton at the 2004 Open, but then Wikipedia reminded me of Zach Johnson's win at the Masters last year (how soon one forgets).

Johnson's victory aside, it's been a long time since someone from the United States not named Woods or Mickelson has won anything of substance. So this begs the question: How come every time the Ryder Cup arrives, the experts say that the Americans look better "on paper"?

Maybe it's the Tiger-Phil Factor, but I would posit that it's likely because golf writers place too much of a premium on victories at regular PGA Tour stops and are too narrow-minded in the way they view "the rest of the world". Sure, the PGA Tour has the deepest fields from week to week, but by placing so much value on the quality of its fields, pundits are indirectly devaluing the quality of the fields in Europe. It's a very Ameri-centric (is that a word?) mindset, and it borders on absurd. Non-American golfers are described as being somewhat exotic by the broadcasters and writers; one might think Sweden is on another planet.

It'll be interesting to see if we'll be reading the "on paper" argument this year. By looking at the top fifty-one cumulative finishers at this year's first three major championships, we see that fully thirty-two of the players are foreigners. That's 63%. Of course, not all of them are European (the other side of the Ryder Cup coin), but it's still a big number. On paper in the major championships, the Americans don't look very dominant.

Let's now look at the Official World Golf Rankings. There are only seven Americans in the top twenty-five after the Open Championship (28%). Again, the U.S. appears pretty weak using this metric.

Will writers change their tune and start giving the Euros more credit -- credit that they should be due after thumping the Americans in each of the last three contests? How about five out or the last six? They might if the Europeans win again this year at Valhalla, but I wouldn't be so sure of that. Old habits die hard, especially when the habit is defending athletes from one's home country.

I'm fairly certain the U.S. will lose again in September. And I don't think Woods would have made a huge difference in the outcome. Unless something changes drastically on the American side, we're toast.

Then again, as underdogs on paper, the Americans might just pull it off!

Bonus Points for Davis Love

2008-07-19T21:11:00.002-04:00

I've never been a DL3 fan. I don't know why, but he's always struck me as milquetoast. I also think he should have won more big tournaments, so that could have subconsciously turned me off.

Lately, he's redeemed himself by fighting his way into the U.S. Open and the Open Championship. I'm glad he cares enough and has enough pride to want to compete in the biggest tournaments. Lots of other guys would have made excuses and played in other, less rigorous events.

So today he gets even more bonus points for me when he ripped the players who are crying about the high winds and wet weather at the Open. He said, "If you don't want to come then don't come. That's the way to do it. Fact is this is the oldest tournament in the world and it's the biggest in the world. I'm happy to be here. It's always frustrating and that's why you need the determination of Jack Nicklaus or Tiger Woods to win." Unlike some golfers, Love has an appreciation for golf's history and the people who made it such a profitable endeavor for today's players.

I went to the Open at Carnoustie last year, and the weather was pretty nice, so I haven't seen this championship up close when it's brutal. However, I've played many times when lesser men would have not even stepped on the first tee. I commend DL3 for playing well and for stepping up and telling it like it is. He might have just earned a new fan.

Will Players Avoid Loch Lomond in 2009 and Prepare for the Open in Ireland?

2008-07-19T10:47:00.004-04:00

For the past fifteen or so years, most of the top players in the world have played in the Scottish Open at Loch Lomond the week before the Open Championship. Its proximity to the Open venues and the rich purse make it an obvious choice for preparing for the Open.

However, with Padraig Harrington's victory last year and his continued success this year, will players change their schedules and sign up for the Irish PGA Championship? Harrington won it in 2007 before hoisting the Claret Jug, and he won it again last week at The European Club. It makes more sense to prepare in Ireland than Loch Lomond, as Loch Lomond is not a links course. The Tom Weiskopf-designed track is American-style on Scottish soil.

Playing four rounds at a course like The European Club sounds to me like a prudent way to get into a linksy groove. The Irish PGA Championship does not offer world ranking points, but if it can increase one's confidence heading into the Open, who the heck cares about the points?

If I'm Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els, or anyone else who plays most of my competitive rounds in the U.S., I'd be changing my plans for 2009 and enter the Irish PGA to get ready for Turnberry.

Open Championship Proves Depth of Professional Golf

2008-07-18T12:16:00.003-04:00

For the past month, nearly every sports and golf publication has run at least one article about how professional golf is going to be boring until the return of Tiger Woods, which will presumably be at Augusta next spring. Some writers have gone so far as to say that there should be an asterisk next to a major victory when Tiger is not in the field. Only a handful of writers, like Golfweek's Rex Hoggard, have brushed off Tiger's absence with more positive articles like this one.

Well, here we are in the middle of the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, and memories of Tiger are fading fast. It's impossible to predict how everything will end up by Sunday, but to this point, it couldn't have been scripted any better.

Fifty-three year old Greg Norman is in cruising along at even par, one shot behind K.J. Choi (a very likeable player). David Duval is showing signs of a resurrection, finishing Friday only three shots back. And Rocco Mediate is back again, battling to grab the glory stolen by Woods in La Jolla.

Hot shot Camillo Villegas threw up a 65 today to vault himself into contention, and fan favorite Paddy Harrington is positioning himself well to defend his title. If we were to believe the press, the Tour is loaded with robots, but close to the lead at the halfway point are guys with character and flair. Ian Poulter, Fredrik Jacobson, Stuart Appleby, Stephen Ames, and Adam Scott are in the mix. And who can overlook the presence of Jean van de Velde five shots behind Choi?

Sergio Gacia, Anthony Kim, Justin Rose, and Retief Goosen have held their own, and as we all know -- anything can happen on the weekend. So, we can't count out a surging Phil Mickelson or even Ernie Els, who made the cut on the number.

Jim Furyk is flying under the radar with a pair of 71s, leaving him three strokes off the lead. Can it get any more exciting or intriguing as this? Some would say yes; Woods would make it better. I say his presence would certainly change the dynamics of the championship, but the depth of the players at this level -- most of whom are underappreciated, especially the regulars on the European Tour -- is enormous.

Tiger is missed by many, but we will get along just fine until the Masters. These guys are good, but they're also interesting. Hopefully golf fans will take the time this weekend to discover it.

My Yahoo! Fantasy Lineup for the Open Championship

2008-07-17T14:42:00.004-04:00

I play in a league of about ten guys on Yahoo's fantasy golf site. I've struggled to make good picks throughout the year, but I've hung in there so far and am currently 2nd in the standings.

In this league, you get an A Group, a B Group, and a C Group. The players you can select in each group are the same from week to week. In the A Group, you can pick two players and start one. In the B Group, you can pick four and start one, and in the C Group, you pick two and start one. You can change who you want to start throughout the week, but you can't change anything mid-round.

I found this week to be particularly tough because it's so wide open. Here's who I chose:

A Group: Sergio Garcia and Hunter Mahan

B Group: Robert Karlsson, Justin Leonard, Ross Fisher, and Anthony Kim

C Group: Lee Westwood and Andres Romero

Other guys I liked but didn't select include Greg Norman, Boo Weekley, Ernie Els, Nick O'Hern, and Geoff Ogilvy. So far, my picks aren't doing very well, as most of my guys went out early on Thursday, but there's still a lot of golf to be played.

Who were your picks to win?

Course Review: Cross Creek Golf Club

2008-07-14T16:29:00.002-04:00

It's been quite a while since I wrote a course review, and though I have notes and pictures about much heftier courses that are in the course review queue, I feel compelled to write a few words about the course I played on Saturday morning, Cross Creek Golf Club.

I wasn't expecting a whole lot when I showed up at the course in Beltsville, MD at around 7:30am. When I rolled into the lot, it appeared to be just an average public course. The guy in the shop was nice enough, and the weekend rate of $59 was appealing. A small bucket of balls was included in the green fee, so I went to the range to try to find a little bit of tempo before the round got underway.

The range is grass (surprise!!), but it's an "irons only" range. These kinds of ranges really tick me off. Why build 18 holes of golf, preserve a bunch of weedy wetlands, pave cart paths, build bridges over streams, construct a clubhouse, etc. and not even make the range long enough to hit drivers? It's unconscionable. With the way I hit my driver, I need to take at least ten whacks with it before my round. Now I'm hosed.

The course starts off with a nice par 5, followed by a decent par 3. Quirky way to begin, but I let it go. Even though I got off to an okay start, I began to undertand why the starter told us that anything that goes into the trees or environmental hazards should be left alone and treated as laterals. The "laterals" are no more than five yards off the fairway on every hole. There's almost no rough to be found, as everything dives directly into "forest restoration areas" and nasty gunge. The fairways are tight enough on their own-- with these junk areas so close to the edges, there is absolutely no margin for error --- ON THE ENTIRE COURSE!

Cross Creek is one of the most penal courses I've ever played because of the way it's set up. I hit some bad shots, but some that fell victim to the gunge were pretty decent. I lost count, but I would imagine I had 10-15 penalty shots.

We played from the tips, and it was only about 6,300 yards. I don't mind short courses, but Cross Creek takes the driver out of one's hands on nearly every hole because of how tight it is. It is truly ridiculous.

My other major beef is that there was standing water everywhere in the fairways. It hadn't rained in at least a week, yet the management chose dark green, sloppy fairways over light green/tan fairways that play hard and fast. Every shot that landed in the fairway that was more than five feet off the ground, plugged. What fun...

The layout had some bright spots. Some of the par threes were nice, and the first par five (I think it is #13) on the back nine was solid. However, one feels wedged in on every hole, and unless you hit it perfectly straight, it's a pain to play.

The marshal was extremely nice. He was probably the most affable marshall I've ever encountered. Too bad he was the best thing about Cross Creek. I won't go back anytime soon. The only things that could get me to return would be: 1) a guarantee that the fairways aren't soaked, and 2) revenge for letting such a short course get the best of me.

233 and Counting

2008-07-09T21:11:00.003-04:00

Over the 4th of July weekend, I played my 233rd different golf course, which was the Ocean County Golf Course at Atlantis. It's an old George Fazio track that has seen better days condition-wise, but it was a special round nonetheless. I played with my cousin Tripp McKeon, and what made it cool was that the course is where my great-grandfather, Sylvester Gorman, played his final round. He played it with my dad, my grandfather, and my great uncle back in the early to mid-sixties. So, it was a nostalgic trip (with Tripp). I never knew my great-grandfather, but he knew me when I was just a wee one. Hopefully I'll get back to the Atlantis soon with my dad so he can soak up the memories.

I'm still a long way from reaching my goal of 1,000 courses, but I'm making decent progress this year. It's the beginning of July, and I've played 11 new ones in 2008. So I'm less than halfway toward my goal of 30 new courses per year (I'd accept 25), but I'm working on a bunch in the coming months.

On the docket are the following:
1) Cross Creek Golf Club
2) Lake Presidential
3) Pendleton Golf Club
4) Royal County Down
5) Royal Portrush (Dunluce)
6) Royal Belfast
7) Ardglass Golf Club
8) Malone Golf Club
9) Medinah No. 3
10) Skokie Country Club
11) Scioto Country Club
12) OSU (Scarlet)
13) Coldstream Country Club
14) Atlantic Golf Club
15) Frog Hollow Golf Club

It's a solid list, so hopefully they'll all come to fruition. Is there anywhere exciting that you're looking to play before Labor Day arrives?

Hmmmm....

2008-06-18T17:33:00.002-04:00

"I told you so" is much too strong because Tiger did go out and win the US Open. But I sort of did...

Lessons Learned

2008-06-16T17:06:00.008-04:00

Hats off to Rocco Mediate for his gutty comeback on the back nine today. I was pulling for him all the way, and though he couldn't get it done on the 90th hole, he should be applauded for his effort and for not backing down against Tiger. There are a few lessons that the other players on the PGA Tour should have learned from this event.

1) As good as Tiger is, he is beatable. When someone stands up to him and doesn't allow himself to be intimidated by Tiger, Woods shows that he is vulnerable. Golf is not a contact sport, and what the other player does has no direct impact on what one's opponent does, so intimidation should not play into the game as much as the media would like us to believe.

2) Any player who is good enough to be on Tour is good enough to beat anyone else on his best day. Tiger might win WAY more times than other players, but if another player is on a roll, his game can match that of the best player in the world.

3) The USGA's decision in recent years to add a preliminary cut of rough and even lower the highest sections of rough should be viewed as an opportunity to keep the ball on or near the fairway. The US Open is not as tough as it once was, so players need to suck it up and not allow themselves to be hoodwinked into thinking that this championship is too difficult to be won without a huge dose of good fortune.

4) Lucky shots comes to those who are the best. Tiger had some lucky shots and putts, but when one gets the breaks again and again, it's not all luck. The other players need to practice more and play better, and they'll start getting similar breaks.

5) Golf is about having fun, and having fun keeps a player loose. Playing loose translates into better shots and more holed putts. Rocco is the perfect example of this formula, and the other guys on Tour need to take notice and start playing like they did when they were 12 years old. They'll win more after realizing that hitting it hard and finding it is the name of the game. Smile and laugh your way to birdies. It's that simple.

Other lessons that should be learned, but won't be, are the following:

1) The media isn't going to chastise Tiger for being a cry baby club-slammer. We've seen his act time and again, and they're always going to cut him a break, even though he sets a terrible example.

2) The USGA got an exciting event, but the setup didn't feel like a real US Open. They will take the success of this Open and do more of the same in the future. It's good for TV, but it's not good for the integrity of the event. It's now the rough equivalent of the PGA Championship or something on the Florida Swing.

3) An easily birdie-able par 5 as the finishing hole is weak. Enough said.

4) Showing other players on TV instead of replaying highlights of Tiger's junior golf days is good for the future of the game, but the networks aren't going to change their ways until someone else challenges or surpasses him.

Speaking of the future of the game, keep your eye on these guys over the next three to five years: Rickie Fowler, Anthony Kim, Jason Day, Robert Karlsson, Billy Horschel, Kyle Stanley, Peter Uihlein, Daniel Willett, Rory McIlroy, Oliver Wilson, and Hunter Mahan. Just remember the names because you heard it here first.

More Thoughts on the TV Coverage for the US Open

2008-06-16T11:41:00.003-04:00

What if the leaders played a little bit worse on Sunday, and some of the guys who started out the day a few shots back played a little bit better? We'd have had a US Open in which the eventual winner was either not shown on TV at all or shown a maximum of twice.

Here's a rough estimate of how many times some of the players who finished in the top ten appeared on your television sets on Sunday:

Miguel-Angel Jimenez (+3) - once
John Merrick (+3) - zero
Carl Pettersson (+3) - six, but that's because he started so early, and they needed to fill the time between 3pm and Tiger's tee time
Eric Axley (+4) - once
Brandt Snedeker (+4) - twice, but one of the times was to explain a weird penalty that he took; the other time was a replay of a birdie putt
Heath Slocum (+4) - zero, mostly because he finished his round before 3pm, but they never even showed highlights of his bogey-free, six-under par round

It would have been terribly ironic if any of the above players had won. I also continue to wonder how the executives at the PGA Tour and the television networks can spend half of their lives wringing their hands over what their product will be like after Tiger retires, yet they seem to have no interest in giving airtime to other players. Once Tiger decides to take his yacht out for a permanent cruise, which players will golf fans know well enough to become excited about?

The Only Thing Left to Say Is . .

2008-06-15T22:35:00.001-04:00

GO ROCCO!!!!!!

My Thoughts on the US Open So Far

2008-06-14T23:11:00.002-04:00

It's been a while since I chimed in, and I'll make my scattershot observations as concisely as I can.

1) Even if Lee Westwood doesn't pull it out on Sunday, at least I made one prediction on this blog that is worth a darn.
2) Tiger is the best, but at some point everything he looks at won't always drop for him. It might not be this tournament, but it will happen one of these days. His round today (Saturday) could have been disastrous, but it turned out very well. Remove the TV towers on #13 and the lucky chip (he admitted it was lucky) on #17, and he's even par or -1. Now the tenor of the final round is very different that it would have been had he completed the third round in third or fourth place.
3) The 18th hole at Torrey Pines is the biggest joke of a finishing hole in US Open history. It turns the ending of what should be the most rigorous test in golf into a made-for-TV, silly season ripoff. Instead of a short par 5 (playing 530 yards today), they should have made it a 510 yard par 4.
4) Torrey Pines is a minor joke as a US Open venue. I'm sitting here looking at my pegboard of the Golf Digest ranking of the top 100 public courses in the USA. Torrey stands at #89 -- one behind The Legend of Giants Ridge in Biwabik, MN. Familiar with Giants Ridge? Didn't think so. Torrey Pines is playing testy for these guys because the USGA stretched it out to 7,600+ yards, but it looks pretty vanilla to me. Blimp shots of the cliffs (which incidentally don't come into play) are pretty, but it doesn't make it a US Open-worthy layout. Put the same course a couple of miles inland, and it's a course you've never heard of (sort of like Giants Ridge, but much worse).
5) I've done a lot of complaining in the past (not on this blog) about how the networks focus on Tiger so much, and the other players become afterthoughts when he's playing. I know I'm not alone my frustration. But I've concluded that NBC, for all of their fawning over Tiger, do a better job than CBS. However, it's still overboard. I sussed out their formula this afternoon: from start to finish, the networks show EVERY shot of Tiger's live. Even when Rocco was leading, we didn't see all of his shots, and some of the shots we did see were "just a moment ago." Tiger has elevated his game above everyone else's, but catering to the casual fan is tiresome. It's gotten to the point where we only see some of the contenders tidying up on the 18th hole or putting "just a moment ago." It's pathetic.
6) Even given what I just said, Tiger hit a few shots that were incredible today, and he deserves to be where he is. Contrary to popular opinion, I'm not a Tiger Hater, but I wish some of the other guys would drop bombs and get breaks on wild tee shots once in a while.
7) Most of my predictions in the past have been junk, so I won't pick someone other than Tiger to win tomorrow, although I have a feeling that he won't close the deal (I'm tempting fate, but I don't care). What I will say is that of the guys within striking distance, the only players who currently have the guts to step up and make a run are the following: Westwood, Ogilvy, Trahan (maybe), Hunter Mahan, and Robert Allenby. I hesitate to include Westwood since he'll be playing alongside Tiger, but he's played the steadiest golf so far, and US Opens reward steady play. The other guys are streaky, and if any of them catch fire, a 67 or 68 is very doable.
8) Rocco Mediate acquitted himself very nicely today, even after a few screwups in the middle of the back nine. He'll be flying under the radar again tomorrow, and that should serve him well. Unfortunately, the course might be playing too long for him, which is a big, fat bummer.

Woods' Knee and Nicklaus' Record

2008-04-17T12:45:00.002-04:00

The gist of the articles I've read about Tiger Woods' knee surgery earlier this week is, "Don't worry about it! Tiger will be good as new in no time. It might even make him more unbeatable!" This story is a prime example of how golf writers are not taking the surgery very seriously.

I'm not a doctor, and thankfully I've never had knee surgery. And, I know a scope isn't a complicated procedure anymore. However, this is the third time that Tiger has had surgery to his left knee. Logic tells me that this is not the straightest line to beating Jack Nicklaus' major championship record.

People think that it's a given that Tiger will blow past Fat Jack's record of 18 majors, maybe even in the next two or three years. I think he will break the record eventually, but keep his knee in mind before proclaiming he'll do it very soon. The left knee is very important to the golf swing. If it doesn't repair perfectly, or if he experiences more trouble down the road (this seems likely to a layman like me), he could alter his swing enough to lose some or all of his edge over the competition.

Tiger's too smart to return to the Tour too early or put too much strain on a bum knee, but with the way he swings, a huge injury could be just around the corner. I think the golfing world (and Tiger fans especially) should be concerned about the knee troubles. It's the key to Woods' quest to break the biggest golf record of them all, and Team Woods is going downplay it all they can with the hope that we'll all buy their story. I'm not buying it yet.

Sal Johnson Breaks Down Immelman's Victory

2008-04-14T21:10:00.002-04:00

For all of you golf stat junkies, this is manna from heaven. Enjoy!

PS - The predictions I made after round two were only so-so. I didn't pick Trevor as the winner, but I was spot-on for some of the other players.

Mid-Masters Crystal Ball

2008-04-12T11:01:00.003-04:00

It's the halfway point of the Masters, and I thought it would be appropriate to make some predictions about how those at the top of the leaderboard, as well as other key players, will fare during the weekend. As we all know, Saturday and Sunday in major championships is very different from Thursday and Friday. Here's how I see it shaking out for certain players:

Trevor Immelman: He will not win, but he will not fold. He will have his struggles, especially on Saturday, but he'll end the tournament in the top six with a final score of -7.

Brandt Snedecker: He has a good shot of winning this thing. I like his attitude, and he can make birdies and eagles at an amazing rate.

Ian Poulter: I don't see it happening for Ian, although he appears to be confident. I would like to see him do well, but this isn't his year. It would be more in character for him to win the tartan jacket next week at Hilton Head. Plain green is a little dull for him.

Steve Flesch: I like this guy, and having another left-hander win at Augusta would be quite a story, but he's going to struggle with the bright lights of the Masters over the next two days. I think he'll end up at -2 or -3.

Phil Mickelson: The only way he won't win this tournament is if: a) he blows it himself, which I don't think is going to happen, b) someone behind him like Tiger, Vijay or Goosen goes ballistic, or 3) one of the other leaders hangs in and defies the odds by posting two rounds in the 68 to 70 range.

Paul Casey: Like Phil and Weir, he's one of my picks in my fantasy golf league, so I hope he can pull it off. He's done well at the Masters in the past, but he still has to prove to me that he can go low on the weekend of a major. Being from the U.K, if the weather is crummy, odds are that he won't collapse. Look for him to remain in the top five or six.

Stephen Ames: See Paul Casey.

Mike Weir: I would like to see him do well, but it's going to be tough for him if it rains and gets windy.

Arron Oberholser: He would be a great story (because of his comeback from weird injuries), and I think he has the guts to hang in there, but being five shots off the pace will make it difficult for him. He has to go low both days. I'll go as far as saying he'll remain in the top ten.

Stewart Cink: I don't trust him on the weekends, but maybe I'll be wrong. I think he's pretty vanilla, but he would be a worthy champion. However, it's not going to happen.

Retief Goosen: If anyone is going to come from way behind on the weekend, it's either going to be the Goose, Singh, or Tiger. Watch out for this guy.

Tiger Woods: Had he not converted that tricky par putt on 11 or gotten himself out of a jam on 18 yesterday, I would say he was out of it. Since he got it to -1, he's still in it. I think he'll be close to a 65 today, but it'll end up being a 69 and keep him 4-5 shots off the pace going into Sunday. If the wind kicks up on Sunday, he'll likely do poorly and finish around a T-7.

Vijay Singh: I have a feeling that he's going to go low on Saturday but come up short in the end. Like Tiger, he has too many good golfers in front of him.

Others: Geoff Ogilvy, Padraig Harrington, Justin Rose, and J.B. Holmes will all make strong showings, but they will all fall short.

Winner: Phil Mickelson. If it's not Phil, I think it'll be Snedeker, Ames, Casey, or Goosen.

Intriguing Masters Groupings

2008-04-09T13:12:00.004-04:00

The groupings for the Masters were made available today. How they are picked is anyone's guess, but I've always thought the tournament committee must have fun setting the lineups for Thursday and Friday. Here are the groupings that I find most intriguing and why:

Player - Jimenez - Trahan: This is just plain odd. I don't see what any of these guys have in common. I figured they would have put Player with some higher-profile golfers since he'll be playing in his record 51st Masters.

Crenshaw - Thompson - O'Hern: I think this is a great group for the amateur, Thompson. Both of his partners and laid-back, and Crenshaw has a nice touch with people. Playing with Gentle Ben should benefit the young man from Alabama.

Johnson - Donald - Ogilvy: The green jacket could be slipped on anyone in this group. Their styles of play are similar (except Ogilvy is a little longer), and they should all feel comfortable playing together.

Woods - Cabrera - Appleby: Cabrera took down Woods at Oakmont last year, and Appleby played poorly at Augusta with Tiger on Sunday in 2007. I'm not sure what the dynamic will be, but it's going to be interesting to see how they play together.

Clark - Toms - Fasth: This is a sneaky-good group. Toms hasn't done a whole lot in a while, but I imagine there will be lots of birdies between the three of them. I have a feeling at least one player from this group will finish in the top six or seven.

B. Watson - Garcia - Calcavecchia: I never would have thought to put these three together, but it's one group I would follow around if I were at Augusta. You have a bomber, a should-have-been, and a grizzled vet. If Garcia can keep his head on straight, he has a chance to silence his critics. It's a longshot, but you heard it here first.

Scott - Casey - Goosen: This is another group with a lot of firepower. I also like the fact that they're from all over the globe. If Scott can get the putter working, all three of these guys should land in the top ten come Sunday afternoon.

Mickelson - Romero - Choi: This might be my favorite grouping. Mickelson and Romero are both swashbucklers. It will take all the discipline he can muster for Phil to stick to his game plan while paired with Romero. Let's hope he doesn't pull a monkey-see-monkey-do. Finally, Choi is steady as she goes, so he'll stick out like a sore thumb in this threesome.

Which groupings do you like the best? Which ones are the goofiest?

Recommended Golf Books

2008-04-08T16:45:00.000-04:00

I recently posted links to golf books that I would recommend all fans of golf and golf course architecture read. It is by no means a comprehensive list, and it will continue to be revised and expanded, but I thought you, the Networked Golfer faithful, would want to be made aware of it. I listed a few books that you have probably never heard of or thought to read. Worst case scenario is that you impress your guests when they scan your shelves.

It's on the sidebar to the right in the section titled, "Recommended Reading."

Masters Preview

2008-04-06T18:53:00.003-04:00

Everywhere you look, people are previewing the Masters. So, I won't get into too many of the regular issues about the tournament, the players, or the course. I'll keep it short and sweet with what I wish would happen at the Masters and what will happen.

What I Wish Would Happen at the 2008 Masters
1) The field would be expanded by approximately 10 players - The current field consists of 94 players, and this is how they qualified. I would like to see about 10 more players given the opportunity to play. Who would I include?
a) The first five players on the current year PGA Tour money list who are not already qualified. This gives more opportunities for younger players or those whose games are hot to make it in.
b) Winners of the US Open and Open Championship from six years ago through ten years ago. I think the five year exemption into the Masters for both of those tournaments is a little light.
c) Two players picked by a committee of past Masters champions (not the Masters committee) who have not otherwise qualified but are so associated with past tournaments that not having them there weakens the allure of the tournament. Some names that come to mind are Greg Norman, Nick Price, Johnny Miller (not that he'd play), Davis Love 3rd, Tom Kite, Chris DiMarco, and Lee Trevino.

2) The Masters committee would eliminate the rough entirely. I don't know how much of a difference this would make with the changes in equipment, but it would be in tune with Bobby Jones' design philosphy.
3) Someone will make a back-nine charge to win on Sunday. Maybe it has happened recently, but it doesn't seem like it has.
4) Someone wins with one of these surnames: Couples, Els, O'Hair, Stricker, Rose, Weekley, or Ogilvy.

What Will Happen at the 2008 Masters
1) Tiger Woods will post a top five, but he'll come up short because his putter will go cold.
2) The winner will either be a repeat champion or a big surprise (most likely a foreigner).
3) People will continue to complain (and rightly so) about the abundance of trees down the right side of the 11th fairway.
4) People will complain (and wrongly so) about why old guys like Gary Player, Ray Floyd, Sandy Lyle, etc. should stay home like Nick Faldo because they have no chance of winning.
5) The winning score will be -8 or better. The weather forecast looks pretty good, so there will be plenty of fireworks, but not too many to make the Masters committee go back to planting more trees.

A Fifth of Scotch - The Final Chapter on the Scotland Trip

2008-04-01T20:00:00.000-04:00

It's been more than six months since I posted the fourth chapter on our trip to Scotland -- too long. However, the details are still fresh in my mind, so here's how it wrapped up.

After the Open and our final failed attempt to play the Old Course, we went to dinner at a really good brick-oven pizza/Italian food joint in St. Andrews. One would think that St. Andrews would be all about traditional British food, but there were more than a handful of solid restaurants in town. Dinner was very good, but the service was sub-standard. Our meals took forever. However, the wine and beer went down smoothly, and it set the stage for a fun night on the town.

We headed over to a bar called something like "The Lizard". It wasn't hopping at first, but it got packed pretty quickly. The bottom line is that we ended up hanging out most of the night with some Brits who went to school in St. Andrews and a representative from the Nigeria Golf Federation named Abel Edinomo. No joke. Evidently, Nigeria has over 40 golf courses. Our main man from the NGF wanted to have Tubby and me fly over to play. Even though he said security wouldn't be an issue, I'm going to pass until the political climate changes. Still, I have his card, so I'm toying with the idea of interviewing him for Networked Golfer.

We had a super-early tee time on Saturday morning at The Devlin Course over at the Fairmont. Jimmy, Tubs and I were in a fog from the previous night, and it showed in the way we played. The Devlin is a very tough course, and the winds were up. For most of the round, it was a two or three club wind. We all adjusted pretty well -- by the middle of the back nine. Part of the problem was that the course, though on the sea, is more of an American-style course than the others we'd been playing. The major difference isn't the look of the course (it was links-style), but that it has more forced carries and targets than Lundin Golf Club and Turnberry. And, since it hasn't had a zillion years to grow in, the ball didn't roll very well in the fairways. We'd been playing "hard and fast" for almost a week, and our final round was soft and slow.

The greens were very hard and very fast. This made it even more difficult. On a perfect day, with the right mindset, the Devlin can be had. It just wasn't going to be had by any of us.

After the round, Tubby and I chatted about the course with a couple of Scots who were coming up to #18. Jimmy had walked ahead to the clubhouse. When we reunited with him five minutes later, he pointed out that Loren Roberts' bag was next to the pro shop on a trolley. Roberts had just missed the cut at Carnoustie, but he was sticking around to vacation and to prepare for the British Senior Open that kicked off on the upcoming Thursday.

We went into the clubhouse, and Loren was sitting by himself preparing to dig into a club sandwich. Throwing tact out the window, we decided to chat him up. He stuck out his hand and smiled and proceeded to talk to us for a couple of minutes. He seemed like a genuinely nice guy who was very happy to hear about our exploits on the Devlin. We had seen him play two holes the day before and were actually nearby when he chipped in on #12 (I think). We told him that the Devlin was tough, but that we were sure he could handle it better than we did. The short conversation with him in an empty dining room was one of the highlights of the trip, and now all three of us are much bigger fans of The Boss of the Moss because of his great attitude and his willingness to ask a bunch of nobody Americans about the course and our stay in Scotland. Finally, our time had come to leave St. Andrews. I'm itching to go back, not just to play some of the courses we didn't play (including Elie, Kingsbarns, Crail, and the majority of the St. Andrews Links Trust courses), but also to spend some more time in the charming town. Even if you don't play golf, it's a wonderful destination.

Our flight was leaving from Glasgow the next day, so that night we settled into the Millennium Hotel in a happening part of town. We had a really fun night out at the bars and got a taste of how the locals party at a club called Frankenstein. There were a few incidents that occurred that aren't totally appropriate for this blog, but nothing too outlandish.

The next day, we got to the airport in plenty of time and made the uneventful flight back to Philly. I caught the playoff of the Open on XM Radio in the parking lot of PHL, and it felt strange that only two days earlier we had been at Carnoustie and were now listening to the end of a great tournament from a station wagon thousands of miles away. I guess that's just the way we Gormans roll.

Video Tells the Story

2008-03-29T15:27:00.002-04:00

Back in January, I took my video camera with me on a golf trip to Hilton Head. Earlier this week, I brought it out again when I played three times locally with my cousin Tripp McKeon. While it's cumbersome to pull out the camera every time I play, I think I'm going to use it often because it shows me exactly what's right and wrong with my swing.

Tripp and I played back the Hilton Head video and the nine minutes we shot this week. It was incredibly revealing. Though I managed to patch together some decent rounds on the days I used the camera, it's painfully obvious that I'm going to need to change a few things if I want to get my scoring average down from 90.5 to the 86 or 87 range.

What did I see? On the positive side, I have pretty good posture and decent alignment. Still, they both could be improved. On my bad shots, I'm moving my hips and hands through the ball too early, and the result is a pull. It's probably a result of overswinging and not allowing my hands to stay back and let the club do the talking. It's a problem that can be fixed now that I see it on tape.

On both my good and bad shots, I noticed something that will require lots of attention and hard work to change. I'm getting my hands in a terrible position at the top of my backswing and pulling everything down and through (to the left) on my downswing to compensate for the poor position at the top. The result is an over-the-top move where I'm sort of chopping down and through the ball. When it works, I hit a power cut, and when it doesn't work, I wipe the ball, and it flies nastily left-to-right. The wipe creates a weak shot and has the potential to put me in trouble on my next shot.

So, I think I'm going to bring the camera to the range and see if I can flatten out my takeaway and get my hands in a better, lower position so I don't feel the need to do an outside-in jobbie to make good contact. It's not going to feel comfortable at first, but it should result on a more "on plane" swing that should eliminate the weak cuts/wipes.

I don't know when this all started because I had never really seen my swing on tape. But, my old ball flight was a slight draw, and now I can't draw the ball if my life depended on it. At least now I can see why this is the case.

If you're having issues with your swing (I assume you all do to some extent), be a geek and have one of your playing partners videotape your swing. Do it from the side (seeing that angle showed that I usually take my club past parallel on my backswing) a few times, but make sure you tape yourself from behind. It's the most revealing angle.

The Powerball: A New Era in Golf Betting

2008-03-10T16:57:00.005-04:00

For years, my friend Jack Hession had been talking about how we needed to employ a "Powerball" during our death matches on the golf course. What exactly he meant by a Powerball was far from concrete, but the basic idea was that everyone in the match would get a Powerball that they could bring out at any time during the round and use it to their advantage. Of course, the Powerball would be yellow.

For a long golf weekend this January in Hilton Head, Jack brought a box of yellow Top-Flites with him. He was insistent that the Powerball Era begin in Hilton Head. We argued about how we should set up the rules during the nine hour drive, but we didn't come up with anything definitive until we had a thorough 60 minute discussion at Chez Marin in Hilton Head.

Here's what we decided. Each player gets one Powerball per round. He can pull it out at any time, as long as it's used when teeing off. You have to announce that you are going to use it and how you are going to use it. There are two ways to use the Powerball: 1) As a Mulligan Ball -- this is self-explanatory, or 2) As a Zero Ball -- this means you can step up to the tee, yellow ball in hand, and state to the rest of the group, "Zero Ball!" The Zero Ball is a pre-emptive strike at the other team because after you hit your shot, you lie zero.

The Zero Ball became the major weapon of the weekend, although plenty of Mulligan Balls were used. The Zero Ball is an incredibly strategic tool because it enables you to take further advantage of any strokes you might be getting in the match, and it can serve as a method for stepping on your opponents' necks when you're really beating them down. Most of the time, unless we were desperate for a spark, we would hold onto the Powerball until late in the round. If it was burning a hole in our pockets, at a critical juncture in the match the Zero Ball was usually pulled.

Sometimes the strategy didn't work out. As a matter of fact, most of the time we hit terrible shots with the Powerball. I guess it carries with it an extra bit of pressure. I used my Zero Ball at a very opportune moment late in our round at Heron Point on a par 5, but I proceeded to push-slice my drive into the other county. Zero Ball gone -- retee -- hitting two (instead of three). It was a pathetic display, but it made the round that much more fun.

We should figure out a way to trademark the Powerball, but I don't know how it's possible to make any money off of it. I would be satisfied if the game caught on and became an international phenomenon, which I think it could if enough people are exposed to it. We'll know it will have hit the big-time when we start reading reports from Top-Flite about skyrocketing sales of their yellow balls.

Improvement in My Game Is Taking Time

2008-03-05T23:17:00.003-05:00

My main goal for 2008 is to play in a local qualifier for the U.S. Amateur Public Links in June. To enter, I need to have an index of 8.4 or lower. I was hoping by now I would be under 11, but I'm finding that even incremental improvement is slow if I continue with my current strategy of hitting balls once per week until the weather gets better.

My scores from the winter (from locations where the handicap season runs year-round) have been counted toward my VSGA handicap, which did its first revision of the year on March 1. I had a couple of good scores and several terrible ones, and a number of good scores were kicked out. So, it looks like my handicap is on the rise.

The Virginia State Golf Association updates handicaps on a monthly basis, but they offer a "real time" index called an instant index. Currently, my official index is 11.4, and my instant index is 12.9. So I think what that means is that unless I can post some good scores in the next four weeks, I'm going to be closer to a 13 than an 11 by the beginning of April. That would be accurate, as I've been way too inconsistent (from hole to hole, let alone round to round) to warrant an 11.

If I can turn the tide and take the positives from the range to the course, I should be able to hold steady through March and begin to lower the handicap in April. Still, it's a tall order to drop three points by the middle of June. My interim goals are to be in the 11ish range by April 1 and about a 10.2 by May 1. If I can get some really good scores in during May, there's an outside chance that I could crack the 9 barrier by June.

These are the things I must do in order to achieve these interim goals:
1) Go to golf school. I have a 3-day school picked out. Now I just need to schedule it. I have picked up a few bad habits since my last lesson 20+ years ago, and I need some drills to free myself of them.
2) Hit balls twice per week and put in at least 90 minutes per week on the putting green.
3) When I play, try not to shoot a score. I have a bad habit of playing defense sometimes when I'm playing well, and inevitably it leads to a couple of blowup holes (i.e. front nine at La Cana) that ruin my score.
4) Play as much as possible with my friends who like playing for money. I've found that I usually play better when there's something substantial on the line (at least a $5 Nassau with some side action). Maybe I'm searching for something that's not real here, but when I was recently in D.R., we didn't play for money, and my focus wandered during each round.

So that's the plan. I'll try my best to stick to it. If anyone has some brilliant suggestions for how I can hack 3-4 strokes off my current average, please leave a comment.

What's Your Dream Golf Destination?

2008-03-04T21:10:00.002-05:00

This post about Pebble Beach over at Playing the Top 100 Golf Courses in the World got me thinking about my dream golf destinations. In the post, he makes a comparison between Pebble and Bandon Dunes --neither of which I've visited.

I've teed it up at several of the standard golf meccas, including Hilton Head, Myrtle Beach, Florida, Hawaii, the Dominican Republic, Cabo, and Scotland. And, I've played some cool courses in places that aren't necessarily known for golf, including Iceland, Portugal, Nova Scotia, and Idaho. But there are plenty of places I either haven't visited or where I haven't played golf when I visited that are worth mentioning.

Some of these are very far away from my home and will take some doing to get there, but I plan on golfing them all someday. Here are my current dream golfing destinations:

1) Ireland - I've been there twice, but I wasn't able to play either time. Hopefully, 2009 is the year for the Emerald Isle.
2) South Africa - I've been there too, but golfing wasn't on the agenda. Ideally, I'd like to take about three or four weeks to sample the golf and the wines.
3) Australia - I've never been, but I hear the golf is Aussi-ome!
4) Japan - Something tells me that golfing in Japan would be a truly unique experience for a westerner like me.
5) England - I lived in London for six months back in the late '90s, but I didn't have any money.
6) Bandon Dunes - Everyone says this is THE place to play.
7) Spain - I've been there, but golf wasn't the reason --unfortunately.
8) Dubai - I'm sure the current batch of courses aren't great, but I imagine excellent courses will be plentiful within the next five years.
9) Argentina - It's a beautiful country with many golf options. I'd like to go back soon and check out their offerings.
10) Arizona - I've never golfed in Arizona. I think I'll test it out some September when it's not overly hot and the rates are reasonable.

I'd like to hear where others consider their dream golf destinations. I'm sure I'm leaving out dozens. Comment away!

Pac-Mac and The Masters

2008-03-04T14:28:00.004-05:00

If you haven't seen, The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters, move it to the top of your Netflix queue as soon as possible. It's a hilarious documentary about classic "gamers" who are the best in the world at early '80s video games like Donkey Kong, Pac-Man, MAPPY, and Burgertime.

Make sure you watch the special features, especially the interviews. You won't believe these guys are real. One part of the movie I found particularly amusing was when one of the key figures in the film, Billy Mitchell (the first person to ever get a perfect score in Pac-Man) uses a golf analogy to describe why real champions need to prove their ability in front of others rather than just mailing in their top scores on video-tape.

Here's the line from Billy: "To me, most important is to travel to a sanctioned location, like Funspot, that makes it official; if tomorrow Tiger Woods golfs a 59, big deal. If he does it at Augusta, that's where it counts."

No Respect for the Non-Tigers on Tour

2008-03-03T18:17:00.005-05:00

There have been a rash of articles lately about the possibility of Tiger Woods winning every tournament he enters on the PGA Tour in 2008. I find this a little bit disturbing, not because Tiger isn't by far the best player in the world and on a serious hot streak, but because it gives little credit to the other top-notch players on Tour. Like the marketing guys from Ponte Vedra Beach like to say, "These guys are good." They don't say, "This guy Tiger is awesome!" -- even though the talking heads on the telecasts would have you believe he's the Tour's only asset.

No matter how good Tiger is, and no matter how much he cherry-picks his schedule to play in tournaments he likes and where he has had immense success in the past, golf is a fickle game. A bad week of putting, some errant drives, or one big week from an equally hot golfer will break Tiger's streak. Saying that Tiger will win them all is very disrespectful to all of the other excellent players.

I imagine he'll win a bunch of tournaments this year (I predicted nine wins in a previous post), but because golf is golf, and there are lots of talented players at the game's highest level, I think any talk of an undefeated year should be shelved until he wins at least five or six more in a row. If that happens, the other players will be running scared even more than they are now, and they'll be helping Tiger fulfill the golf writers' prophecies.

Guest List: 10 Most Exclusive Courses

2008-02-29T14:37:00.002-05:00

In October of 2006, I wrote this post about the most exclusive golf courses in America. Yesterday, some bored financial types in New York were arguing about which courses were indeed the most exclusive. They did a little Googling and came across my piece. Turns out, one of the guys involved in the conversation, Christian Siegrist, is a friend of my brother Jimmy.

So, below is their list of courses. I would point out that in my article, I said that Augusta is a given, so it was not included in my list.

Here is the list of the most exclusive private clubs that we believe are nearly impossible to play as a “non-member”. These clubs have very few members and strict policies that limit guests. It is highly unlikely that even the most well-connected golfer will be able to tee off at any of the below courses any time soon.

1) Augusta National Golf Club
2) Shinnecock Hills Golf Club
3) Seminole Golf Club
4) Oakmont Country Club
5) Merion Golf Club
6) Royal Montreal Golf Club
7) Wannamoisett Country Club
8) San Francisco Golf Club
9) Burning Tree Golf Club
10) Chicago Golf Club

With Maidstone Club and Sankaty Head Golf Club as alternatives to any on this list. Yes, number six is Canadian, but very exclusive.

My analysis: This is a good list, but not very original with the exception of Wannamoisett. I particularly like the inclusion of San Francisco and Chicago Golf. I understand that Chicago has one of the smallest memberships in the world and is very difficult to get on. Others that could have been included are the Valley Club of Montecito, The Country Club, Newport Country Club, and The Golf Club.

Courses on My Wish List

2008-02-27T15:50:00.002-05:00

I've been keeping an informal "wish list" of courses to play for the past five years or so. Some of them are almost unattainable, but stranger things have happened than a guy like me playing Cypress Point. Below are the courses I have not played that I'd like to play before I go six feet under.

International
1) Royal County Down
2) St. Andrews (Old)
3) Royal Portrush (Dunluce)
4) Royal Melbourne
5) Ballybunion

USA - Private
1) Cypress Point
2) Pine Valley
3) Augusta National
4) Seminole Country Club
5) San Francisco Country Club

USA - Public
1) Pacific Dunes
2) Pebble Beach
3) Mauna Kea
4) Shadow Creek
5) Pasatiempo

PGA Tour Predictions for Rest of the Year

2008-02-25T20:26:00.002-05:00

The PGA Tour season is in full swing with the boys heading to Florida this week for the Honda, and though it seems like I'm cheating by making my 2008 predictions now, nothing has happened very different from other years (i.e. Tiger dominating) that would change my predictions if I had done them two months ago.

Here they are:
1) Rookie of the Year - Jason Day
2) Player of the Year - Tiger Woods
3) Masters Winner - Phil Mickelson (2nd - Angel Cabrera)
4) US Open Winner - Tiger (2nd - Mickelson)
5) Open Championship Winner - Sergio Garcia (2nd - Justin Rose)
6) PGA Championship Winner - Justin Leonard or Ernie Els
7) Number of Wins for Tiger Woods - Nine
8) Number of Wins for Mickelson - Four
9) Surprise Two-time Winner - Steve Marino
10) Ryder Cup Winner - GB& I
11) Ryder Cup Team (USA) - Woods, Furyk, Mickelson, Stricker, Cink, Mahan, Weekley, Verplank, Leonard, Marino, Dustin Johnson, and Jonathan Byrd (others to watch are Lucas Glover and Zach Johnson)
12) Ryder Cup Team (GB&I) - Justin Rose, Lee Westwood, Luke Donald, Paul Casey, Ian Poulter, Sergio Garcia, Henrik Stenson, Martin Kaymer, Padraig Harrington, Niclas Fasth, Rory McIlroy, and Colin Montgomerie (others to watch are Daniel Chopra and Bradley Dredge)

Agree? Disagree? Let me know in the comments section.

New Club in the Bag

2008-02-24T21:23:00.003-05:00

For all of the golf I play (about 60 rounds in 2007), my equipment is a bit outdated. My high tech golfing buddies remind me about it all the time. The last club I bought was my driver, and it's now about four years old. Before that, I bought a putter -- in 2001.

So while the wife was away, I ventured over to Washington Golf to check out three-woods. The three-wood I'd been using was a no-name brand that I'm pretty sure was purchased at Costco for under $50 more than five years ago. I hit it pretty well, but not all the time. As a matter of fact, I was very inconsistent with it, and the shaft was too whippy.

I was determined to test out several clubs and come away from Washington Golf with a shiny fairway wood to complement my Taylor Made Rescue 19 degree (on semi-permanent loan from Jay Payne) and help me out on short par 4s. The guy at the shop asked me a few questions about my game, and we picked out three-woods from Taylor Made, Ping, Cobra, Exotic, and Titleist.

I got loose on their indoor "range", and then started pounding away. It was a little difficult to know exactly which one flew the best, but I was able to get a feel for which clubs fit my swing and which ones were only okay. The Taylor was really nice, but I didn't like the look of it at setup. Same with the Ping, except that the Ping felt really odd because it had a much more closed clubface than the others. The Cobra didn't do it for me (I like their drivers, though), and the Exotic blew me away.

I had never even heard of Exotic until yesterday. The Washington Golf guy told me that they were selling well and that the company guaratees 20 extra yards with it, or you can take it back. I was skeptical, but he said he'd tried it, and it was super long. It has the mamixum COR allowable by the USGA, and the face is some kind of souped-up titanium. Well, it didn't disappoint. The ball exploded off the clubface. It felt illegal. If I had the bucks, and if I intended to hit my three-wood more than three or five times per round, I might have purchased it. Unfortunately, it costs $349, so no dice.

I really liked the first Titleist I tried, but the shaft was a little weak, so we grabbed the same club with a stiff shaft. It set up well, and it felt good. I hit a bunch of shots with it right on the nose, and it was less than $200. Sold.

I took it out to a real range today, and the difference between my new Titleist 906 F4 and my old Costco Special is tremendous. I can see it being my "go to" club on tight holes, short par 4s, and shots from the fairway when I need about 220 yards of carry. I think it was a smart purchase, and now I need to get my swing in gear to maximize its potential.

New Top 10 Course Rankings

2008-02-21T22:04:00.003-05:00

I just returned from the Dominican and was able to play three times in five days. I will dedicate a post or two (with pictures) to golf in D.R., but for now, I want to post an updated personal top 10 list of my favorite golf courses.

The list has changed a lot in the past year (five of the courses are new in 2007 and 2008), so I thought this would be a good time to unveil the revision. I'm still not sure if these are all in the right place, especially Casa de Campo and Punta Espada. I'm going to continue thinking about both of these courses over the next few weeks and let you know if I change my mind.

1) Mid Ocean Club
2) Turnberry Resort - Ailsa Championship
3) Casa de Campo (Teeth of the Dog)
4) Merion Country Club (East)
5) Cap Cana - Punta Espada
6) Princeville Resort (Prince)
7) The Cascades Course
8) The Course at Yale
9) TPC at Sawgrass (Stadium)
10) Highlands Links

Knocking on the Door:
11) Lundin Golf Club
12) Golden Horseshoe (Gold)
13) Bayonne Golf Club
14) Bethpage State Park (Black)
15) Galloway National Golf Club

Thoughts? Disagreements?

Westwho??

2008-02-05T09:31:00.000-05:00

Don't look now, but there's another Steve Strickeresque rejuvenation happening in the ranks of professional golf. Very quietly, Lee Westwood has turned his game around and is now ranked 18th in the world. This is a guy whom most observers either wrote off or simply forgot existed.

Let's set the scene. Ten years ago, Westwood was the most promising Englishman (and European, for that matter) to come along in a decade. It seemed like he was winning everything he entered, and his career peaked in 2000 with six victories on the Euro Tour and a place atop of the Order of Merit.

Shortly after that, his game sputtered. He ended 2001 #52 on the European money list, which seems almost impossible for someone with his talent to accomplish. It would be like Tiger Woods going from #1 to about #100 on the PGA Tour money list. In 2002, it got worse, as he slipped to 75th on the money list.

Now, one could argue that Westwood never lost his game quite to the extent that Baker-Finch, Duval, or Ballesteros did. However, he had some bleak years after being "The Man" in Europe. Since 2002, he's slowly gotten himself back on track. In 2003 he won twice, but the rest of his year was littered with T-67s. He was showing progress, but doubters still had good reason to doubt.

Around the same time that his game started recovering, many fresh faces appeared on the European Tour who stole the limelight from Lee. These players include Justin Rose, Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter, Nick Dougherty, and Luke Donald. Westwood became a forgotten star almost overnight. Though he continued to improve from 2004 through 2006, he didn't win during those years, and he became known more as an also-ran than a threat to win every tournament he entered.

Fast-forward to 2007, and Westwood is right back where he was eight years ago. He won twice on the European Tour and finished in the top 36 of all four majors. He's currently on top of the Order of Merit for 2008 and has had a recent run that I feel has gone unnoticed by most of the golf press. He has placed in the top 10 in eleven of his last twelve tournaments. Eleven of the last twelve!

I expect to see more good things from this brilliant Ryder Cupper in the years to come. Hopefully he can keep the good vibes going and stay on top. He's only 34 years old, so he should be entering his prime. It should be fun to watch. Maybe other golf fans will start to take notice.

Ian Poulter/Tiger Woods Satire

2008-02-01T15:37:00.000-05:00

This is probably only funny to people who know Tubby G and Jack Hession, but I thought I would post it anyway.

Ocean City, NJ (AP) – Tubby Gorman said Thursday a British golf magazine took his words out of context when it quoted him as saying when he reached his potential he would be the only one capable of challenging Jack Hession.

The interview with Gorman, in the March edition of Golf World U.K., created a buzz at the Dubai Desert Classic, where Tiger Woods opened with a 7-under 65 to build a two-shot lead.

Hession, the No. 1 player in the GBI Rankings, is coming off a two-shot victory at the the 2007 GBI. Gorman is at No. 6 with zero career victories.

"The trouble is I don't rate anyone else,'' Gorman was quoted in the magazine. "Don't get me wrong, I really respect every professional golfer, but I know I haven't played to my full potential and when that happens, it will be just me and Hesh.''

Gorman, a flamboyant 25-year-old American, appears nude in the magazine behind a strategically placed golf bag.

"The whole answer to the question has been taken out of context,'' Gorman said from his basement apartment in Chicago.

Golf World U.K. did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

He said Hession was so far ahead of everyone else in the rankings that the real battle was to become No. 2.

"If people do play well over a period of two years, you can get to No. 2. You can't reach Jack,'' Gorman said. "It would be a dream to see Jack Hession and then me in the GBI Rankings as you look down. What's wrong with that? Is it being rude? Is it being disrespectful to everybody else? I don't think so.

"Jack Hession is so far in front, and people want to get as close as they possibly can to that.''

Gorman, who is known for his more eccentric hair styles and clothing in the conservative golf world, has only one top 3 in three tries at GBI. He has played in two Pop Pop Invitationals, winning once.

Golf World U.K. is not affiliated with the U.S.-based weekly Golf World, which is published by Golf Digest Companies.

Gorman said the interview took place three months ago. He said he had not heard from the magazine since and had not seen a copy.

But he couldn't keep the controversy out of his mind Thursday.
"I'm not going to lie. I'm going to tell you, I've been thinking it the whole time during this whiteout in Chicago,'' Gorman said.

David Duval Is Back In Action

2008-01-15T17:53:00.001-05:00

As most of you know, I'm a fan of David Duval. He's playing in the Hope this weekend, and I hope he does more than makes the cut -- I hope he top tens it to give him the confidence he needs to make this a big year.

Last spring, I wrote about how well Duval was progressing in his multi-year comeback. Shortly thereafter, his season was cut short because he had to attend to family matters. I don't know how much he practiced in the offseason, but I'm pretty sure he'll be ready to contend again soon. He certainly has a good record at the Hope. He's had a win (1999) and three top fives. Last year, he finished in a tie for 39th. So, he should have some good vibes going for him in the desert.

He has set a lofty target for himself this year, which is to make the Ryder Cup. I don't see that happening (he's not even listed in the Ryder Cup points list), but at least he's thinking big again. With a guy as talented as DD, if he can remember what it takes to contend and even win again, the sky's the limit.

I think it's interesting to note that he really hasn't been a force on the Tour since 2001 and there are many, many young players on Tour that have never seen him play well except for on TV. I wonder if seeing and playing with all of the new faces will be uncomfortable for him for the first few tournaments. Not only does he have to prove to himself that he belongs, but he probably wants to prove it to guys where were in the 5th grade when he was winning big tournaments. I predict that he'll be just fine, as it's been widely reported that he's "in a good place" in his personal life, so that should carry over to the golf course.

GBI Has a New Website

2008-01-06T19:23:00.000-05:00

GBI now has a full-fledged social networking website at www.gormangolf.ning.com. It is by invitation-only, so if you are a GBIer who has not received an invitation, email the Commissioner.

The site features a blog, a discussion forum, photos, videos, member pages, comments between members, and other cool things that are in the works. So far, we have eleven members.

GBI Has a Big Time Sponsor

2008-01-04T11:34:00.000-05:00

Over the weekend, the Gorman Brothers Invitational secured its first major sponsor for the 2008 edition of the storied championship. The identity of the sponsor is being kept under wraps until just before the weekend. All we can say is that every participant will be impressed by the generosity of said sponsor.

More sponsorship opportunities are available. Contact the Commissioner if you're interested.

Wish List for 2008

2008-01-03T19:39:00.000-05:00

My mother wants me to do a post on my golf resolutions for the new year, but I've altered her request slightly and am writing a wish list instead. I asked her to write a guest article, but she came up with a sudden bout of writer's block the second I mentioned it.

Here goes:
I wish....
1) To play 30 courses I've never played before.
2) To break 80 at least five times.
3) To have a double-bogey free round (it's been a while).
4) To enter the local qualifier for the US Amateur Public Links in June.
5) To play golf in South America or Asia.
6) To win GBI.
7) To play at least one of the following courses: Congressional, Aronimink, Five Farms, The NGLA, or Pine Valley.
8) To make an eagle.
9) To improve my wedge play.
10) To have more of my NetworkedGolfer readers click on my ads.

The Best of 2007 - My Year in Review

2008-01-02T14:53:00.000-05:00

Here is a "best of" look at my 2007 golfing experience. As you'll see, not all of the winners had much to do with me.

Best Tournament Attended: The Open Championship at Carnoustie - It looked like it was going to be a rainy day to watch the world's best, but it turned out to be sunny, and we saw all of the biggies before cut time.

Best Golf Trip (International): Scotland

Best Golf Trip (USA): Gorman Brothers Invitational - What else could it be??

Best Golf Event: World Golf Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

Best New Course (International): The Ailsa Course at Turnberry

Best New Course (USA): TPC at Sawgrass (Stadium)

Best Round: 81 at Swan Point Golf & Yacht Club - sad, isn't it?

Best Nine: 37 at Swan Point

Best Shot: Hole-in-one by my brother Jimmy on #11 at Turnberry

Best Putt: Eighty-five footer for eagle in a charity event at Lee's Hill with Jack Hession

Best Drive: Tubby's shot on the par 4 #16 at Lundin Golf Club to about twenty feet

Best Conditions: The Dunes Golf and Beach Club

Best Greens: Columbia Country Club and Saticoy Country Club (tie) - They were both running true at a solid 13 on the stimp

Best Scenery (International): Highlands Links in Ingonish Beach, Nova Scotia

Best Scenery (USA): Sherwood Country Club

Best Ride to the Course: Private ferry at Bayonne Golf Club

Best Weather: Sixty degrees and mostly sunny at Whitemarsh Valley CC on Thanksgiving Day

A Golf Christmas

2007-12-26T16:29:00.001-05:00

I usually have a hard time coming up with gift ideas for myself for Christmas. This year was no exception, but my family definitely came through given the paucity of guidance from me.

I try to suggest things that are not golf-related, but it's getting more and more difficult as time goes by. I simply like getting golf stuff. I'm not a gadget guy, and when I upgrade my clubs, I'd like to get fitted properly. So golf books, gear, clothing and gift certificates are more my style.

I was fortunate in the clothing department this Christmas. I got a sweet pair of pants by Loudmouth Golf from my sister-in-law, Jen. I am not going to reveal which style she chose -- when you see me on the course, you'll know. I got a very slick pair of black Adidas shoes from my parents, and Sara gave me a sharp shirt from Under Armor. My parents also got me a silly (in a good way) bucket hat from Rosasen, but unfortunately it doesn't fit my oversized dome. When a company markets a hat as XL, it should really be XL. Shame on Rosasen.

My brother-in-law and sister-in-law got me a pass for ten buckets of range balls at Hilltop. It should give me extra incentive to practice over the winter so my game is ready when the warmer weather comes.

I also got a couple of nice books, my favorite of which is Planet Golf, by Darius Oliver. To order your own copy, click on this link: Planet Golf

Merry Christmas!

2008 GBI Is Coming Together

2007-12-19T12:33:00.000-05:00

Though most of the big secrets concerning the improvements to the 2008 Gorman Brothers Invitational are still under wraps, we are allowed to leak the dates of the event. The few and the proud who will be invited to seventh edition of this event should mark their calendars for May 15-18, 2008. More details will be made public in the near future.

If you are going to attend GBI, get your game in order because the defending championship team of Jack Hession, Matt Nussbaum, Daddy G, and Gabe Marabella, Sr. are not going to give an inch. No one has ever successfully defended the title, but these guys are hungry. I'd say it's about 10 to 1 that they repeat.

Is Anyone Else Paying Attention to Greg Norman the Golfer?

2007-12-14T09:21:00.000-05:00

It seems like everything I read during the past three or four years about Greg Norman focuses on his business successes and his personal life. Little has been written about his golf game. It's understandable that Greg Norman "the golfer" has taken a back seat to these other stories because:

a) He's been a tremendous success in several types of business pursuits,

b) His recent divorce was costly and drawn-out, and

c) He hasn't played a lot of golf in recent years.

Once Norman turned fifty, it was assumed that he would play several tournaments each year on the Champions Tour, but that hasn't come into fruition partly because of injuries and partly because of other distractions. However, if one wanted to read between the lines, it might have been reasonable to presume that his game was very rusty and that he didn't want to go out there and embarrass himself.

After his performance in his own tournament in Florida last week paired with Bubba Watson in which they tied for second, I started thinking about the state of his game. I didn't watch the tournament, but I have to imagine that he played pretty well. Fast forward to this weekend, and I notice that he's going to make the cut at the South African Airways open with ease. With his second round complete, he's at +1 in a tie for eighth. To put that in perspective, he's currently four shots clear of Ernie Els, the fourth-ranked player in the world.

It's easy to forget that Norman was for several years the Tiger Woods of his era. Even though he had only two majors and a slew of close calls to show for it, he was the most dominant player in the world between Tom Watson and Tiger. His collapse at the hands of Nick Faldo at the Masters in 1996 was the beginning of the end of his dominance, but what these past two weeks show me is that Norman still has game and still has a little competitive fire in his belly.

It will be interesting to see if after his divorce and with the realization that he has tons of money in the bank and probably has most of his businesses on autopilot, he decides to tee it up a little more often. I know his fans around the world would certainly like to see it.

Snow Today . . . 70 Degrees on Monday

2007-12-05T18:30:00.001-05:00

One of the things I love about living in Virginia is that the golf season is longer than most places in the northeast. My parents live in Philadelphia, and I'd estimate that their season is about 45 days shorter than ours, even though Alexandria is less than a three hour drive south.

In December, the weather is very erratic around here, as evidenced by the weather this week. Today, it snowed about an inch, but it's supposed to be close to 70 on Monday. Go figure.

If work is not too busy, I might dust off the sticks and play on Monday. It could be one of the only times I'll be able to play in 50 degree plus weather before heading to the Dominican in February.

The Most Amazing Golf Achievement of the Year

2007-12-02T12:49:00.000-05:00

In America, we are in the middle of golf's "silly season". Except for Q-School, there's not a whole lot at stake for professionals from November through the beginning of January. However, the European and Asian Tours are in full swing, and what I am declaring the most incredible achievement of the year took place this weekend at the European Tour's Michael Hill New Zealand Open.

Bob Charles, winner of the 1963 Open Championship, made the cut and finished T-23. The New Zealander is 71 YEARS OLD! He's the oldest person to make the cut on the European Tour by seven years. Think about it -- he's fifty years older than some of the other playing competitors. When I read that he had made the cut, I did a double-take, and I naturally expected him to mail it in after making the weekend. Yet, he continued his youthful play by shooting 71 and 70 in the final two rounds. Take that, young guns!

One of My Last Remaining Excuses to Play Better Goes Down the Tubes

2007-10-19T12:30:00.000-04:00

We all have excuses for why we don't play better. Some people vocalize them all (often), while others use more restraint and don't taint their reputations by making excuses for their sketchy play.

The ones that I hear (and use) most often are:

1) I don't play enough.

2) I never spend any time on the range.

3) I'm getting old, and my body isn't as flexible as it used to be.

4) It's too slow on weekends. It takes me out of my rhythm.

5) It's a) too windy, b) too soggy, c) too cold, d) too hot.

6) The greens are too slow/fast.

7) I need better technology.

8) I only play well when there's something on the line.

9) I have too many other things on my mind.

10) I've been playing too much recently.

This week I got rid of #11, which is, "My eyesight is crummy." I went to the eye doctor for the first time in my adult life, and it turns out I need specs.

The technician who checked my eyes before the doctor saw me asked what the problem was. I told her that I thought my eyes, especially my left one, weren't as good as they used to be. She asked for examples. I said that it's difficult to see exactly where someone's drive lands if it goes 200+ yards. She gave me a look. Then I told her that I thought my putting was suffering because my left eye is a mess. She gave me a very exasperated look. So, I told her I had to strain while driving at night and while sitting at the computer for a long time. These examples seemed to satisfy her. No more looks.

I got the specs yesterday, and I'm trying to get accustomed to wearing them. The optician said it's going to take a few days for them to feel comfortable because my eye muscles need to adjust. Already, things are much clearer and sharper. The difference is nothing short of amazing.

It remains to be seen whether the glasses will help my golf game, but I imagine they will. At the very least, I'll be able to pick the exact tree that my ball hits, even if it's 250 yards away.

"Gatorade Tiger" a New Twist on My Old Idea

2007-10-16T19:40:00.000-04:00

A couple of years ago, I wondered why Tiger Woods did not have his own sports or energy drink. I couldn't believe he did not have his own brand. My idea was to have him hook up with an energy drink maker like Hansen Naturals and have his own line of energy drinks called something like Tiger's Milk, Tiger's Sweat, or Tiger's Eye. Golfers and non-golfers would lap it up, and Woods would get a cut of the profits or sales for allowing the company to use his name and image.

I should have done something about it because it turns out he had a similar plan. Instead of creating a product with a lesser-known company and putting his skin in the game, he has chosen to hook up with Pepsi and allowed them to license his name on a new line of sports drinks called Gatorade Tiger. He's getting a ton of cash for it, and there's absolutely no risk. I think the upside of my idea is higher, but I can't criticize his decision for going with a top brand and being paid a set fee for the license.

I Have a Camera Problem

2007-10-15T18:33:00.000-04:00

Pictures can really spice up a blog. I realize not everyone reads my articles, but nearly every visitor looks at the pictures. My goal is to accompany each article with at least one picture, but this has not been happening recently. I keep forgetting to bring the digital camera to the course.

Last week, I was in Los Angeles visiting family and friends (and seeing Notre Dame make mincemeat of UCLA), and I was granted the opportunity by Steve Nourse to play two terrific courses, Sherwood Country Club and Saticoy Country Club. Both courses are very scenic and would have made even a mediocre photographer like myself look good. However, I forgot to bring the trusty digital.

This is becoming a pattern, and I hope to break it soon. In the future, I'll make sure to take good pictures for all to see.

Feel-Good Stories of 2007

2007-09-30T21:04:00.000-04:00

I was driving home from a round of golf this afternoon, and I caught the tail-end of the awards ceremony for the Presidents Cup on XM Radio. I started thinking about who was on the winning American team, and rather than my mind jumping to team play regulars like Woods, Mickelson, Toms, and Furyk, I started considering how unlikely many of the team members were.

This has all been written about before in some form or another, but how wacky is it that Steve Stricker, Lucas Glover, Hunter Mahan, Zach Johnson, Charles Howell III, and Woody Austin were representing the U.S. at Royal Montreal? Individually, their presence was not too much of a stretch, but to have them all on the team in the same year was pretty astounding. Here's a quick snapshot of why they made it and what I see in their futures. These six players not only represented our country, but they represent what makes for terrific drama in the ranks of professional golf.

Steve Stricker
Why he made it: He's simply been one of the best players in the world for the past 18 months, coming back from having no status on the PGA Tour to one of the ten best players in the world.

What's in his future: His confidence level is sky high, and he's not that old. If he can keep striking the ball well and continue his stellar putting, he should continue to be a top player for at least the next five years.

Lucas Glover
Why he made it: He's been on the cusp of stardom for several years. He's been steady all year and really turned it on this summer. With the amount of birdies he pours in, it's incredible that he's only a one-time winner on Tour.

What's in his future: His experience in Canada this week should help him achieve the next level of stardom that he's been seeking for the past three years. He'll be on several more teams like this, and I wouldn't be surprised if he wins more than ten times on Tour and swipes a major championship or two before it's all over.

Hunter Mahan
Why he made it: Except for Tiger and Stricker, Mahan played the best golf of anyone in the world from about June on. Nicklaus really wanted him on the team.

What's in his future: He's my pick as the next really good American golfer, with a slight edge over Anthony Kim, Billy Horschel, Jaime Lovemark, and Brandt Snedeker. I would add Ryan Moore and Bill Haas to the mix, but they haven't lived up to the hype yet (i.e. neither one of them has found the winner's circle). If Mahan continues to improve and plays three of four fewer tournaments per year, I see him being a twice-a-year winner for a while.

Zach Johnson
Why he made it: It's no mystery that Johnson has been playing some excellent golf lately. His dream season included a green jacket, another Tour win, lots of $$, a spot on the winning side at the Presidents Cup, and the birth of his first child.

What's in his future: I don't see Zach winning twenty or thirty times in his career, but I could see him having a Fred Couples-type of career. I wouldn't be surprised if he wins another major, possibly a U.S. Open.

Charles Howell
Why he made it: Chuck made the team based on his play from early in the season. He had a hot start, and though he couldn't keep it going throughout the year, he seems to have turned a corner, especially in the putting arena.

What's in his future: He should win three or four times every five year. I don't see him being a top twenty player year in and year out, but he can score when everything's working right. Can he win a major? I think he'll get one, but it might be a few years.

Woody Austin
Why he made it: He is a bulldog, and he played like a greyhound during the summer. He even got his first win in a zillion years and nearly won the PGA.

What's in his future: More of the same. He'll make some noise and maybe win another tournament or two before the Champions Tour. And, he'll still wear those noisy shirts.

David Duval and I Are Both Back In Action

2007-09-28T12:53:00.000-04:00

I've been away from blogging for well over a month now. I don't know how it happened other than I was busy doing other things and didn't make the time to post. I can't guarantee multiple posts every week, but I will try harder to increase the frequency of the articles.

I am happy to see David Duval playing again. The Viking Classic could be the only tournament he enters for the rest of the season, but at least he's back. He's been out since February helping out his wife, who had a difficult pregnancy. That's commendable, and his play in the first round was equally good. He shot 72 (even par) and has a legitimate shot at making the cut if he can pull off a one or two under round today. The tournament is being held at Annandale CC, and for what it's worth, I shot an 87 the one time I played there about six years ago.

He did the right thing to take care of his family when they needed him, but with his encouraging start earlier this year, it would have been interesting to see what he would have done playing a full schedule. Hopefully he'll be family emergency and injury-free next season.

Golf vs. Baseball

2007-08-09T17:33:00.000-04:00

When I was younger, baseball was it. I played it, watched it, and memorized records, boxscores, and stats. My recall of baseball data was (and still is to an extent) on the verge of freakish.

Somewhere in the '90s, I lost interest. I can't link my falling away to anything specific like the strike or 'roids. My guess as to what happened was that I began to relate less and less with the players as the years rolled on. And, other things in my life become a bigger priority. I didn't like baseball less, but other activities and interests moved it out of the spotlight.

While baseball was on the downswing, my interest in golf was on the upswing. I began playing when I was about nine, but after college I became a bigger golf fan than a baseball fan. Hence, the golf blog and my quest to play 1,000 different courses by the time I'm seventy.

Barry Bonds' 756th home run got me thinking about the virtues of both sports and how they compare using some metrics that I made up. Here's a little list that might spark some debate:

Heroes
Baseball: Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Sandy Koufax, Nolan Ryan, Cal Ripken, Willie Mays, Cy Young, Ty Cobb, Mike Schmidt, Pete Rose, Derek Jeter, Jackie Robinson, Lou Gehrig, Walter Johnson, Roger Clemens, Bob Gibson, Tony Gwynn, Ichiro Suzuki, Alex Rodriguez, Greg Maddux, Roy Campanella, Yogi Berra, Jim Palmer, Steve Carlton, Tom Seaver, Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Carl Yaztremski, Mariano Rivera, Reggie Jackson, Brooks Robinson, Frank Robinson, Willie McCovey, Harmon Killebrew, Whitey Ford, Roberto Clemente, Stan Musial, Joe DiMaggio, and Hank Aaron.
Golf: Bobby Jones, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson, Lee Trevino, Gary Player, Johnny Miller, Jimmy Demaret, Sam Snead, Gene Sarazen, Byron Nelson, Walter Hagen, Ben Hogan, Greg Norman, Nick Faldo, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els, Peter Thomson, Billy Casper, Seve Ballesteros, Bernhard Langer, Jackie Burke, Charlie Sifford, Chi-Chi Rodriguez, Vijay Singh, Tommy Armour, Old Tom and Young Tom Morris, Francis Ouimet, Ben Crenshaw, Ray Floyd, and Harry Vardon.
Verdict: Even with the likes of Cobb, Rose, Bonds, McGwire, and Sosa on the list, baseball gets the nod in the Heroes category. Golf has a storied history, but too many of the baseball players are larger than life and far more well-known to the common man than the golfers.

Records
Baseball: Pete Rose's hits - 4,256; Cy Young's wins - 511; Joe DiMaggio's hitting streak - 56; Barry Bonds' home runs - 756*; Rickey Henderson's stolen bases - 1,406 career and 130 single season; Nolan Ryan's strikeouts - 5,714; Ty Cobb's batting average - .366
Golf: Sam Snead's wins - 81; Jack Nicklaus' majors - 18; Jack Nicklaus' Masters wins - 6; Jack Nicklaus' runner-ups in majors - 19; Colin Montgomerie's Ryder Cup singles record - undefeated in eight appearances (I had to throw Monty a bone)
Verdict: No sport can match baseball in the record department. Even Barry Bonds' hijacking of Hank Aaron's home run record cannot diminish the sheer scope and variety of baseball's records.

Playing
Baseball: Most people don't play baseball beyond high school.
Golf: Most people don't play golf until after high school and can keep playing well into their seventies and sometimes into their nineties.
Verdict: There's no question golf is the better sport to play for many years. And even though it's an individual sport, golf is also more social than baseball.

Watching
Baseball: A baseball game can be found on TV almost any time of day or night for nine months straight. It's decent to watch on TV, but a much better experience in person.
Golf: Golf is mostly a Thursday through Sunday TV affair, and it's exciting to watch if you know what you're watching and you have an interest in the players. The majors are usually more intriguing to watch than the regular Tour stops. In person, golf is a lot of fun, but the opportunities to go to a tournament are limited for most Americans.
Verdict: Tie. Baseball is better in person, and golf is better on the boob tube.

Big Events
Baseball: Baseball has three big events. They are the All-Star Game, the playoffs, and the World Series. The All-Star Game used to be fun, but now it's kind of a joke. The playoffs are usually compelling, but I don't like the wild-card feature. I think it's a bit forced, though I can stand it. The World Series is great, but if big market teams aren't in it, I usually tune out.
Golf: Golf has been trying to manufacture big events like the World Golf Championships and the FedEx Cup, a playoffs for golfers. No matter how hard they try, these gimmicks will never equal the prestige of the four majors. In addition to the majors, there is the Ryder Cup and the Presidents Cup. This is a lethal combination.
Verdict: The World Series and the playoffs are the only baseball games worth watching anymore (can you say, "overexposure"?), and there's nothing like the Ryder Cup or the majors in golf. Golf by a hair.

Technology
Baseball: As long as we're not talking about pharmaceutical technology, baseball has stayed purer than golf. However, the new ballparks are pretty homer-friendly no matter what kinds of sticks they're swinging.
Golf: There have always been advances in golf technology, and the courses have been changed over time to accommodate it. However, the golf ball might be just a little too hot for the pros. For the amateurs, it makes the game more fun.
Verdict: Baseball has done a better job reining in technology and keeping the playing field level.

So baseball wins by a score of 3 1/2 to 2 1/2. I guess this little exercise didn't create the result I was looking for.

What do you think?

Picks for the PGA (I give this stuff away for free!)

2007-08-08T17:06:00.000-04:00

I can't believe the PGA Championship starts tomorrow. Doesn't it seem like the Open Championship just happened?

The PGA is a tough one to handicap this year. Tiger just made mincemeat of the field at Firestone, but that's nothing new. He has a hard time on dogleggy par 70 courses like Southern Hills, so I don't see him as the favorite. In fact, I'd be surprised if he top tens it.

Here are my picks to win, and why:

1) Sergio Garcia - I picked him at the British, and he couldn't close the deal. If he can suck it up and face the music this week, he should do well. Tee to green there's no one better. He has to get out of his own way on the greens and in the press tent.

2) Justin Rose - He's red-hot, and he's due to break through. Rose is a grinder who can withstand the ups and downs one will experience at a course like Southern Hills.

3) Shaun Micheel - I just have a feeling about him. He hasn't played that well in '07, but he has a W and a 2nd in previous PGAs.

4) Zach Johnson - His driving is straight, and he is above average with his irons. And, he's a very good putter to boot. That's a tasty combination.

5) Kenny Perry - He's been playing very well lately. He's streaky, so if he gets it going, then he can go the distance. The PGA has always been his best chance at winning a major. He's getting older, so if he doesn't do it this year, his time will have likely passed.

6) Andres Romero - He's fearless, and he won't mind the hot weather as much as some of the other players.

7) Justin Leonard - Oklahoma is near Texas, and Leonard has fared very well in past PGAs. He's peaking at the right time.

8) Ryan Moore (Darkhorse) - He's due to live up to his expectations. Why not in a major?

Agree? Disagree? Let's hear what you think. Please comment at your leisure.

Congratulations to Lorena Ochoa

2007-08-06T18:38:00.000-04:00

Networked Golfer congratulates Lorena Ochoa for her five stroke victory at the Women's British Open at St. Andrews over the weekend. If anyone deserved to win, it was definitely Lorena.

I've been tracking her career for about three years, and though majorless prior to St. Andrews, she has been the dominant force on the LPGA of late. No one else, including Annika Sorenstam, has played as well as her on a consistent basis. But what I really like about her is who she is off the course.

There have been many articles written about the kind of person Ochoa is. Though I can't find it online, Golfweek ran a wonderful story recently about how she treats people. She is extremely grounded and doesn't seem at all affected by her celebrity. Sometimes, famous people start their careers like this, but they derail after several years on top. I don't see that happening with her.

One of my favorite anecdotes about Ochoa is how she makes a point to visit the grounds crew at every tournament. She visits them at the maintenance shack unannounced and by herself. Her main reason for making these visits is to thank the crew for their hard work and to compliment them on the course conditions. And, she's completely sincere.

She spends time talking, posing for photos and signing autographs. She makes their week, and probably their year, for if you haven't noticed, the majority of grounds crew members are Hispanic, and to them (especially Mexicans), Lorena is a hero.

Enjoy Ochoa's game while you can, but pay close attention to how she comports herself on and off the course. She's a bona fide role model for young women everywhere.

Scotland - Chapter 4

2007-08-04T19:45:00.000-04:00

The Open Championship at Carnoustie
Friday was a big day. We were headed to Carnoustie, the famous location of Jean van de Velde's implosion at the Open. But first, Tubby, Maureen and I rolled out of bed at 6:15am to walk around the corner from the Ardgowan to have a little chat with the starter at the Old Course.

The previous night, we had walked over to the Old Course to soak in the atmosphere, see a couple of the holes up close, and find out if there was any way we could snag a tee time. We took a few pics and asked some golfers who were heading up the 18th fairway in the near dark how they had gotten on the course. They told us that they showed up that evening and were able to use a tee time reserved for locals. We did some more investigating and found out that it is indeed possible to show up around 5pm and tee off in one of the last times of the day if some of the locals failed to show up.

This shred of hope got our juices going. We decided to get up early on Friday and see if we could get on the starter's waiting list. If that didn't work out, we would swing by the starter shack after Carnoustie and vie for a local slot. When we arrived at the starter shack on Friday morning, it was quite cold, and it was raining steadily. The starter showed me that there were thirteen people on the waiting list competing for two open tee times that morning. We had no shot he said, unless we came back that evening. So, our chances were slim, but we decided we would come back after the Open and check the status of the local tee times.

At this point, I figured we would stick to our plan of spending the day at Carnoustie, get back to St. Andrews when we could, and play the Old Course if we were able. We jumped on the 9:30am bus to Carnoustie in full rain gear. The weather forecast was grim, but we were ready.

It took about 50 minutes to get to Carnoustie. The bus dropped us off about two blocks from the entrance to the course, and we sailed in. Amazingly, no one checked our badges at the gate. We hung around the 18th green/17th tee box/16th green area for about 25 minutes and saw John Daly, Ernie Els, and Lucas Glover, among others. Els was going along nicely, and it was obvious that he was going to contend for the title.

Jay Payne taught me a system several years back at Augusta for watching a tournament. You start at the 18th and walk the course in reverse. This way, you can see everyone at some point in their round, and it enables you to scope out all the holes. The system worked well for us. We saw basically every big name player in the world, including Sergio, Tiger, Furyk, and Phil.

The rain and clouds disappeared about mid-morning, so it was a perfect day to watch the tournament. The crowds were well-behaved and much quieter than in America. Aside from walking Carnoustie and seeing the best players in the world do things with a golf ball that I could never do, the highlight of the day was chatting up the players. Few Brits will attempt to do this, but we had no problem getting the attention of several players. We determined that the best way to talk to them is while they are walking after a tee shot or while waiting to hit.

Sara was excited to get Vijay Singh's attention. He was walking up the fairway with his driver in hand, and she yelled, "Go Vijay!" He turned around, looked right at her, and gave her a big smile. I guess he hadn't heard many shouts of encouragement that week. It made her day, as she's a huge fan of the Big Fijian.

She also got a similar reaction from Justin Leonard on the par 3 eighth. I scouted out my opportunities for a little chatter and got some serious reactions from Charley Hoffman, Jonathan Byrd, Boo Weekley, and Duffy Waldorf. Boo and Duffy were the best. Boo was walking up the 13th fairway appearing a bit out of his element. Tubby noticed that he kept looking up to the sky at the TV cranes. I asked Boo if he was chewing Copenhagen, and he was all too happy to chat away. He said, "Well, I brought over about 30 tins of tobbacco for the trip because I didn't want to run out. I just buy the cheap stuff." Then I complimented him on his camoflage outfit, and he smiled and laughed. He continued to talk for close to a minute, and then he needed to hit his shot. He might be a hick, but he's a heck of a nice guy. If he hadn't been playing, I'm sure he would have rambled on forever. We found out later that the Scots really took a liking to him, which was nice to hear.

Duffy Waldorf was also engaging. I asked him how he was doing (forgetting that he was about a zillion over par), and he said he was okay. He was wearing a very tame, light blue sweater with dark pants; it was not the normal Duffy attire. I asked him where his loud golf gear was, and he said, "Nobody sells loud clothing for cold weather. I couldn't find anything else to wear!"

Maureen and Tubby started to get anxious about seeing Tiger. I told them to calm down because he had a 2:20pm tee time, and that we'd see him eventually. I looked at the tee sheet when we were at the 7th hole and noticed that Tiger's group would be playing #6 soon. So, we parked ourselves near the 7th tee in full view of the 6th green and fairway. After a few minutes, the crowds quadrupled in size, so we knew Tiger was coming. We saw him play the second half of #6 and tee off on #7. Tiger had hit his second shot on #6 into the front, left greenside bunker. He took a quick slash at it without even taking a practice swing. His leave was over 30 feet away. He was hopping mad. It's rare to see him take so little time over the ball. He got a disappointing par and exited the green quickly.

After that, we caught up with Monty, Ian Poulter, Ryan Moore, Mike Weir, and others. We made our way out of the tournament a little after 4pm, satisfied that we had worked Jay's system to perfection.

By the time we got on the bus, it was fairly obvious that we weren't going to get back to St. Andrews in time to weasel our way onto the Old Course. The sun was shining, and the locals were out in full force. Still, I talked to the starter, but no dice. Tubby was a bit disappointed, but having no expectations of playing the Old when we planned the trip, I wasn't fazed. Sure, it would have been cool to play it, but the chances of getting on were slim to none.
Maybe the next time we go to Scotland, we can plan ahead for the Old. In person, it's like nothing else I've ever seen. The town of St. Andrews is extremely charming, but the Old Course has a feeling all its own. Thinking we might still get some golf in, Tubs and I took a drive over to Crail and Kingsbarns. We tried to get on Crail, but their starter shack had just closed for the day. It was okay, as we had a big night ahead of us in St. Andrews and one final round to play the next morning. All in all, it was a day to remember.

My Latest Golfing Goal

2007-08-02T10:09:00.000-04:00

We all need to have goals. The more specific they are, the more likely they become achievable. And when you tell other people about them, you're even more likely to follow through.

I've been talking for years about "trying to get my handicap down". However, I've been stuck in the 11-14 range, and I can't seem to play well consistently enough to play off single digits. I've pinpointed several factors that are preventing me from going lower more often.

1) I don't practice enough.
2) I haven't had a lesson in twenty years.
3) I have two to four big numbers every round.
4) I'm confident on the tee about 50% of the time.
5) My goal for improving has not been specific enough.

The first two factors are easy to solve. I will get some lessons and practice more. The third factor should take care of itself if I do the first two. The fourth factor is mental, and I can work on that. Confidence will come after playing better more often.

So, although there is lots of work involved in solving the first four, they are doable. The fifth one is the easiest, and I'm going to solve it right now. I have a new goal to play in a sectional qualifier for the 2008 U.S. Amateur Public Links in June of next year. One must have a maximum handicap of 8.4 to play in a qualifier. There, I said it. I'm going below an 8.4 in the next ten months. It's out there for everyone to see. That's the first step to making it happen.

I figure I need to get my current stroke average (about 91.8) down to about 85, which is about 1/3 of a stroke per hole. Reducing the frequency of sevens, eights (and even nines) will naturally lower my stroke average, and other improvements should assist the process. Put in those terms, there's no reason I can't make it happen.

Networked Golfer readers: Is this goal realistic? Do you have any advice for getting it done? Any words of wisdom in the comments section would be appreciated.

Golf in Scotland - Part III

2007-08-01T09:23:00.000-04:00

Lundin Golf Club

After taking a day off on Wednesday to travel to Edinburgh for some siteseeing, we were back on the course on Thursday afternoon at Lundin Golf Club, which is a beautiful links course south of St. Andrews adjacent to Leven Links.

I had done a good bit of research on courses near St. Andrews that might not be familiar to Americans, and I chose Lundin based on reviews and pictures on the web. Close contenders for the Thursday slot were Crail (Balcomie Links), Monifieth Golf Links, Leven Links, and Elie. After talking to several Scots about these options, each of them had a favorite, but they all said that they were of similar caliber and loads of fun. The pro at Belleisle went so far as to say that Lundin was his favorite course in Fife, so that made me very confident in my choice (Fife includes St. Andrews and Kingsbarns).

Lundin Golf Club is also referred to by the locals as Lundin Links. It runs right along the sea, and except for three holes midway through the round which run up and along a hill pretty far inland, it is a very pure links track. From the first hole, I knew this would be one of my favorite courses ever.

The guys in the pro shop were welcoming and quick with a laugh. I told them about Jimmy's hole-in-one at Turnberry, and one of them said, "What did they give him?" I mumbled something about a certificate, and he was incredulous. He said that if he had aced a hole at Lundin, he would have been given a bottle of whiskey!

We tried our best to win the whiskey, but the closest we got was my tee ball on the 5th hole, which came to rest about 15 feet from the cup. Pretty weak.

The conditions were optimal for scoring. There was very little wind until the back nine, but even then it never blew more than 15 mph. We all started out gangbusters; Tubby birdied the first, and Jimmy and I were both hot at the outset. However, somewhere near the seventh hole, the wheels started to fall off. Tubby had two other birdies (he drove the green on the par 4 sixteenth), but none of us could make a run. We were again derailed by too many drives in the gorse, and Jimmy and I found ourselves hitting three off the tee about five too many times. We all broke 100, but there were no fireworks. Tub Rock was undone by a horrid display from 150 in; if he had been able to hit more greens after ripping bomb-diggities off the tee, he could have had the round of the week.

There are several blind shots at Lundin, primarily on tee shots. I am a fan of blind shots, but many people don't like being uncertain of the landing areas. Blind shots make you think, and when you hit it where you're supposed to, it's like getting a little bonus. Courses where "it's all in front of you" are nice, but I enjoy the quirkiness of courses like Lundin. And so, the yardage book is indispensable for first-timers. Thankfully, Tubby and I each invested in one at the pro shop. Had we not, it would have been a drubbing. I felt like for the most part I hit the ball well at Lundin, but penalties and a balky putter held me back. It was disappointing to score poorly, but I'll always remember it as one of the most fun and interesting rounds of my life.

As we were walking up the finishing hole (a real beauty of a par 4), the guy from the pro shop was driving down the road next to the green (you can see the road in the picture below). He rolled down his window and said, "Should I be getting out the bottle of whiskey?" Only in Scotland.

Note: This is a good time to mention a tip for anyone planning on golfing in Scotland. It was my experience that feeling as though it's essential to play the famous courses like Royal Dornoch, Troon, Turnberry, St. Andrews, Muirfield, Carnoustie, etc. might prevent you from playing gems like Lundin Golf Club. There's absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to play the world-beaters, but one can have an extremely fulfilling golf trip in Scotland without playing the "top" courses. I could play Crail (Tubby and I checked it out), Elie, and the like every time and feel like I was getting all I needed. So, don't get frustrated if you can't afford Kingsbarns or can't get on the Old Course. There are scores of second-tier tracks that will blow your mind and maintain some heft to your wallet.

Pictures: 1) Jimmy, Maureen and I in Edinburgh, 2) A view from the 18th fairway of the uphill approach at the first, 3) Lundin Golf Club meets the sea, 4) A blind tee shot, and 5) I have no idea why Tubby his holding this divot on the last.

"Paper Tiger" - Purchase Your Copy Today

2007-07-31T18:36:00.000-04:00

The third part of the Scotland epic will be posted very soon.

In the meantime, several friends of Networked Golfer have commented on my review of Tom Coyne's Paper Tiger with promises of rushing out to buy it. I'll make it easy for you. Just click on the link below and purchase it here. Enjoy!

Scotland - Part Deux

2007-07-30T09:48:00.001-04:00

Belleisle and Turnberry Kintyre

As I mentioned in the previous post, Duncan Martin assisted us with our itinerary, and it was he that recommended we play Belleisle, a municipal course in Ayr, about a thirty minute drive from Turnberry.

It was a great call on Duncan's part. Belleisle claims that it is the #3 municipal course in Scotland, behind The Old Course and Carnoustie. I'm not one to dispute their claim. Belleisle is unique from the other courses we played because even though there are views of the water from a couple of holes, it is a parkland course set away from the sea. It's not overly long (par 69) or difficult, but it can come up and bite you if you're not careful. And, it's a heck of a lot of fun.

Tub Rock played very well on the front nine, shooting a one over 36. He was dropping bombs from everywhere, and if not for a short putt he missed on #7, he could have shot 35. Jimmy played better than me, but neither of us really got it going. Amazingly, this was the only round we played in which it rained -- and only for about two holes. Belleisle has a true muni feel to it. The people we met on the course were there for the love of the game, and there was no pretention anywhere to be found.

I'm really glad Duncan steered us in the direction of Belleisle. I don't think many Americans know about it or ever play it, so it felt like we were putting one over on everyone.

In the afternoon, we played Turnberry's Kintyre course. I had read mixed reviews about Kintyre, but I found it to be a very good golf course and a stern test. Though not as dramatic as the Ailsa, there are a few holes that play along or toward the water, and it was extremely windy. By the back nine, we were feeling the effects of going out the previous night (remember, Jimmy had a hole-in-one the day before), minor jet lag, and walking thirty-six holes. Of the thirty plus times I've played 36 in a day, I think this was the first time I had ever walked all of them.

We all had our share of good holes and good shots, but scorewise, it was a round to be forgotten. Only Tubby and I stayed in double-digits, and it wasn't by much. The gorse and heather ate up far too many of our drives, and I in particular found myself hitting three (or five) off the tee too often. What started out as a good round (+1 after 4 holes), quickly turned into a nightmare after I blasted two OB on #5 and made a nine. Oh well. It didn't take away from the fact that it was a terrific golf course, and we were in Scotland when we could have been in the office.

Pictures: 1) Jimmy and Tubby discussing how far they hit their drives on #8 at Belleisle, 2) The eighth green at Kintyre, and 3) A typical bunker at Kintyre (from #10).

Recap of Scotland Trip - Part One

2007-07-27T09:05:00.000-04:00

There's so much to report about our recent trip to Scotland, that I'm going to have to serialize the trip in three or four parts. So, stay tuned to the blog over the next week.

Turnberry - Ailsa Championship Course
If you haven't availed yourself of the opportunity to play golf in Scotland, search for coins in the couch cushions and book a flight. I've played a lot of golf in my life (if you could call what I do "playing golf"), and I've never played a string of five courses quite like the ones we walked (i.e. no carts) last week.

I want to first establish who went on the trip. It was my wife Sara, her college roommate, bridesmaid, and world traveller from Boston, MA via Coudersport, PA, Maureen "Mojo" Larsen, my brother Jimmy, and my brother Tubby. With our luggage and three golf bags, the Renault Scenic was stuffed to the gills, but everyone was comfortable. I was the chauffeur, as I am the only one with experience driving a stick on the left side of the road.

I created the agenda with some help from Duncan Martin, a somewhat famous golf executive, historian, and enthusiast from Glasgow who did business with my parents when they ran a golf catalog called Tribute Golf in the 1990s. After flying from Philly to Glasgow, we made our way south to Turnberry, where we stayed at the Westin Turnberry Resort for two nights (thank you, Starwood points!).

On the afternoon of our arrival, we teed it up at Turnberry's Ailsa Championship Course. This is where Watson and Nicklaus had their "Duel in the Sun" in '77. The course is again playing host to the Open Championship in 2009.

What a golf course! People call it "The Pebble Beach of Scotland", and it surpassed my expectations. It was fitting that there was a 30 mph wind throughout our round, but we managed to do okay. I shot a 91 with three sevens and an eight, so it was half-respectable considering the state of my driving and putting. Unfortunately, this was my best round of the week.

By far the highlight of the round was Jimmy's hole-in-one on #11, which measured about 148 yards in a devilish right to left wind. He hit (I think) an eight iron as straight as Sean Connery, and it never moved off line. The pin was set near the front middle, and after it disappeared, he and Tubs went nuts. It had rolled over a little hill like a putt, and it was difficult to see the hole, so I was worried that it was only close, and not in. Hence, my delayed elation.

Jimmy and Tub Rock ran up to the green, and lo and behold, it was in the hole! Many pictures were taken, and the 1 really did wonders for his score. Tubby and I hit next, and though we hit decent shots, there was no way we could top what we had seen. The only other time I had seen a hole-in-one in person was by a fat kid about twenty years ago at Westlake Golf Course. I doubt that that chubs even plays anymore -- he was that bad. So, this was the first time I witnessed a real ace.
The entire course was perfect. I can't think of one weak hole. The long stretch of holes along the water and to the lighthouse is hard to beat. Even with all of my wayward shots and lost balls in the heather and gorse, I felt good about finishing birdie-par. Maybe Tom Watson was giving me a little push.

More to come in the next post . . .

Interactive Poll: Who's Going Down in Flames?

2007-07-13T16:39:00.000-04:00

Networked Golfer is wondering who all of you golf brainiacs think is going to fare the worst at Carnasty next week. Let's see what you know!

Scotland's Around the Corner

2007-07-12T10:40:00.000-04:00

On Sunday, we head across the pond to Scotland to play golf and watch the Open Championship up close. This will probably be the apex of my golf year, even surpassing the Masters practice round in April.

I've been intrigued by the Open for many years. The first one I really remember watching was at St. Andrews in 1984 when Seve won. But it hasn't been until the last five or six years that the Open has become my favorite major.

The Open stands out from the other three majors because of the types of courses upon which it's played, the weather (usually), the respectfulness and enthusiasm of the fans, the history, the international flavor, and the uncertainty of who will prevail.

No matter how hard we try in America to simulate the links courses in Scotland, we always come up short because of our dearth of true linksland. So, when the Open is on TV, we are treated to a game of golf that Americans rarely play or even see. Carnoustie isn't an authentic links course, but there's no other course in the USA that resembles it. Van de Velde's antics a few years back add to the allure of Carnoustie, and as the 2007 Open venue, it made my decision to book a flight that much easier.

Of course, the weather can make the Open treacherous. If the wind blows and the rain decends, anything can happen. The weather factor contributes immensely to the uncertainty of the winners. Sure, you have guys like Peter Thomson and Tom Watson who seemed to thrive under tough conditions and knew how to keep the ball down and get it in the hole in fewer shots than the rest, but given that the weather can be very different from hour to hour, how the tee times shake out can actually fiddle with the outcome. This phenomenon rarely happens in the American majors.

The fans in the U.K. are better than in America. They know the game and respect it, and I don't think going to a golf tournament is as much of a "to do" as it is here. Thus, shouts of "Get in the hole!" and "You da man!" are kept to a minimum. The Brits know when they've seen a good shot or a nicely lagged putt, whereas many people at American tournaments aren't sure exactly what they are watching. I guess after next Friday, I'll be able to confirm or dismiss this notion.

This history of golf and the towns that surround the courses in Scotland are incomparable. I don't need to explain it; it just is. In the US, many think that a course built before 1990 is old. As a point of reference, the New Course at St. Andrews was built over 110 years ago.

Without trampling on the Masters or the US Open, I would propose that the "rest of the world" covets the Claret Jug more than anything else. There is always a huge international contingent at the Open Championship, and this year will not be an exception. I have a feeling that a Euro will win it at Carnoustie, and his home country will be more gaga over the victory than Americans would be if one of our boys took home the Jug.

If the weather is normal (i.e. cold, windy, and rainy) and Tiger is not on his game, the Open will be wide open. It produces unlikely champions like Paul Lawrie, Ben Curtis, Todd Hamilton, John Daly, and even Justin Leonard. This year could be one of those years, especially because of Carnoustie's difficulty.

My picks for this year are as follows:
--Paul Casey
--Joe Durant (sleeper)
--Sergio Garcia
--Ernie Els
--Stuart Appleby
--Geoff Ogilvy
--Sean O'Hair
--Steve Stricker
--Justin Rose

What's the best thing about having these picks? In the UK, I can put my money where my mouth is and place a bet on almost any street corner. It's going to be brilliant!

Book Review -- Paper Tiger: An Obsessed Golfer's Quest to Play with the Pros

2007-07-10T11:49:00.000-04:00

I fashion myself a golf junkie. I like to play, I like to watch, I like to read about it, I like to talk about it, and I like to write about it. However, it appears as though I'm no match for golf writer, Tom Coyne, who is the author of Paper Tiger.

I root for Coyne to do well as an author, not just because I like his books (he also wrote the coming-of-age novel, A Gentleman's Game), but because he was a year behind me at Notre Dame. I met him a couple of times, and he seemed like a funny guy. Actually, one time he and I were the platonic dates of two girls who were friends, and Tom spent much of the evening telling bizarre but entertaining stories about how the house he grew up in was haunted.

I don't remember too much of that night other than his stories. He was adamant that every once in a while his dining room table would lift off the ground and spin around. Household objects flew about the room and the lights flickered. The family just watched this happen and became accustomed to it. I couldn't figure out if he was serious or pulling our legs, but he was convincing enough that I sort of believed him.

We were both English majors, yet I'm not sure if we were ever in a class together. I have a fuzzy recollection of him being in my Dante class, but I could be imagining it. Either way, we crossed paths over ten years ago, and several years later I came across A Gentleman's Game without making the connection until I saw his picture. For good or bad, tall, red-headed guys who grew up near me (the Philadelphia area) and tell ghost stories with as much fervor as he did are tough to forget. Since A Gentelman's game, I've followed his career closely, but at a distance.

With Paper Tiger, he sucked me in so that I can't wait until his next book, A Course Called Ireland, which he's been promoting through a series of journal entry-type articles for Golf Magazine online. Paper Tiger is truly experiential writing. It's sort of a reality show for mid and low handicappers who think they might be able to play on Tour if they just removed every excuse for being mediocre and did everything in their power to get better.

What did Coyne do to get better? He dropped everything, moved to Florida, hired a big-time teacher, a mental guru, and a trainer, and he lived and breathed golf. He shaved his handicap from more than 14 to around a +1 . . . in just over a year. I won't ruin the rest of the story for you, but let's just say it's worth reading. You will become totally psyched up to improve your game. It's that inspirational for a frustrated golfer.

Coyne has a terrific writing style. Since he's telling his story of trying to play with the big boys via Q-School, it's quite conversational and very self-deprecating. He mixes in an intriguing sub-plot about his girlfriend that really ties the story together and keeps it from being simply a journal or a how-to on what one should do to play off scratch. I found myself laughing out loud several times, and I felt like I could relate to many of thing things he put himself through.

What I like most about Paper Tiger is that Coyne didn't just talk about how good he could be if his situation were ideal -- he actually created an ideal situation for himself and went for it. No what ifs, no excuses. It's a nice analogy for how we should all live, golf or no golf.

Early in the book, he recounts how he tried out for the golf team at Notre Dame and blew it on the back nine. In my freshman year, my friend Jim Borger and I were going to try out for the team as well. Neither of us had much of a chance to make the team, but we thought it would be a good experience. The night before the tryout, we decided to have a party. Needless to say, we overslept our tee times by about two hours. End of story. I never regretted missing the tryout because I thought I would make the team, but rather I regretted it because I didn't even give it a shot. Coyne had the skill to make the team, but he didn't do what was necessary when the chance was there. However, he gave it his all. I think you'll agree that he gave this book his all, and unlike his tryout for the Fighting Irish, he succeeded by writing a funny, heartfelt, and compelling book.

Twelve Toughest Courses I've Ever Played

2007-06-21T09:33:00.001-04:00

Recently, Golf Digest put out a list of America's 50 Toughest Golf Courses. I've been thinking about it a little since I'm playing the super-tough Bethpage Black this weekend, which is sixth on the list. I've played six other courses on the list and am scheduled to play the TPC Sawgrass in November. So, I can claim to be credible on the subject. Plus, as a mid-handicapper, tough courses expose my weaknesses much faster than your average course.

What makes a course tough? Lots of things. However, for me it is two things. 1) Super-long par 4s, and 2) Raised green complexes that require precision approach shots. Lots of hazards and funky or fast greens don't bother me too much. Usually my score goes up when the distance is packed into the par 4s and the greens are tough to hold. A third thing that can get me (because I'm a mental midget) is tight driving corridors.

Here's my personal list of 12 Toughest Golf Courses:
1) Princeville Resort (Prince)
2) Wild Dunes (Links)
3) Merion (East)
4) Galloway National
5) Tot Hill Farm
6) The Course at Yale
7) Bulle Rock Golf Club
8) Mattaponi Springs
9) Long Island National
10) The Gauntlet at Curtis Park
11) Bayonne Golf Club
12) Golden Horseshoe (Gold)

Has anyone out there in Networked Golfer Land played a doosie I should check out in my spare time? Disagreements?

The March to 1,000

2007-06-20T16:09:00.000-04:00

This week marks a significant milestone in my quest to play 1,000 different golf courses by the time I'm 70. I will be playing courses #200, 201, and 202. It seems like forever ago that I hit 100. Hopefully #250 will come sooner than later.

The lineup looks like this:

Friday: Three Little Bakers in Wilmington, DE

Saturday: Tallgrass Country Club in Shoreham, NY

Sunday: Bethpage State Park (Black) in Farmington, NY

Looking to go as low as possible...

Golfing in Nova Scotia

2007-06-20T08:57:00.000-04:00

I have visited over thirty countries, and I will say without cracking even a slight smile that Canada is one of my six or seven favorite countries. I won't go into all of the reasons why, but if you haven't visited, check it out. The best time to go is either June, September, or October (unless you're a skier). And, a bonus is that Canada has some amazing golf courses.

A couple of weeks ago, Sara and I headed up to Nova Scotia for her birthday. I had been wanting to go there for about the past five years, mainly to play Stanley Thompson's famous course, Highlands Links, on Cape Breton Island. I played it and loved it. It's firmly in my top 10 favorite courses of all time at number six. However, I was a dunce because I chose not to bring our camera with me on the course. Since I was a single joining up with three other people, I didn't want to be "that guy" who is snapping pictures throughout the round.

Fortunately, Sara caddied for me a couple of days before at a beautiful nine-holer in Gusyborough called Osprey Shores. She brought the Nikon, and took the following shots. The course is being upgraded by the new owner, Glynn Williams. I believe he has plans to toughen it up, but I like it just the way it is. One would be hard-pressed to find a better setting. The course is on a peninsula on Chedabucto Bay, and from every part of the property you have a view of the water. I played with rentals because United screwed up, but I hit the ball very well, as they were a brand new set of Adams. I hope you like the photos.

From top to bottom: 1) A typical view from the fairway, 2) Teeing off next to the bay, 3) The dutiful and beautiful caddy, and 4) My approach shot at #7

Phenom Update

2007-06-19T12:30:00.000-04:00

With all due respect to El Pato, I'd like to take the focus away from the US Open for a moment.

If you haven't noticed, there are some very young players making bold statements in the world of professional golf. Two of them played in the US Open, and one was in the Nationwide event held over the weekend. They are all age 22 or under, so it would be safe to call them phenoms. They are Anthony Kim, Pablo Martin, and Jaime Lovemark.

I mentioned Lovemark in my June 14th post. You may not have heard, but he lost a playoff on Sunday to Chris Riley (the Chris Riley of Ryder Cup infamy) at the Rochester Area Charities Showdown after shooting a 65 in the final round. The NCAA individual champion looks like he's ready to step up to the next level -- and he just finished his FRESHMAN year at Southern Cal. If the trajectory of his game continues, he'll be one of the hottest tickets in golf by 2009. Mark my words.

Pablo Martin is a much-heralded Spanish golfer who just left Oklahoma State to turn pro. He turned 21 two months ago, and a couple of weeks shy of his birthday, Martin (pronounced mar-TEEN) became the first amateur ever to win on the European Tour. I think that his victory is the most overlooked golf story of the year. I'm sure many of you didn't even know it happened. Then, almost immediately after finishing school, he qualified for the US Open and finished in a tie for 30th. He was right in the thick of it before shooting 77 on Saturday. That's pretty stellar playing for a guy who was in college a month ago. In fact, I have a feeling that he will fulfill the promise that Sergio Garcia has not yet reached. I've watched him play, and he has major game, a fearless attitude, and lots of maturity.

Today is Anthony Kim's 22nd birthday, and he is the one with whom you should be familiar. He left Oklahoma after his junior year (he didn't get along with the coach), and in his first PGA event last, he tied for 2nd. Since then, he has backed it up by nabbing nine top 25s and four top 10s in eighteen events. And, his 67 on Sunday at Oakmont was the second best round of the tournament, and the best in the final round by two strokes. In nine months on Tour, he has zoomed from no status to number 66 in the world. He is now ranked 44th in the President's Cup rankings, and if I were Jack Nicklaus, I'd pick him as a wild card. Kim is a fiery personality who isn't afraid to speak his mind. Thankfully for him, his golf has been doing most of the talking lately.

Sometimes phenoms don't pan out. There is a new set of "young guns" just about every year who are touted as the guys who will take down Tiger. These three may not ever break Tiger's records, but they will be giving him a run for the money in the years to come. I can guarantee it.

Where Should the US Open Be Played in the Future?

2007-06-15T15:37:00.000-04:00

There's always controversy surrounding US Open venues. After two rounds, it looks like Oakmont is standing up as a perfect course for the championship. Winged Foot was also lauded for its challenge and setup. However, not all venues are created equal.

Next year, Torrey Pines South will be hosting the Open. I think this is a mistake for several reasons. First, the course is thought to be boring and very straightforward. It lacks character. If it didn't play on a bluff above the Pacific Ocean, the green fee would top out at $79 on the weekend. Secondly, the decision to give it the Open was triggered by the success of the Open at Bethpage back in 2002. The USGA tries its hardest to put forth a non-elitist image, and hosting Opens at public courses (especially munis) is too tempting for them to resist. Third, Torrey Pines is a regular stop on Tour every spring. Why do they need to play there twice in a three month period?

After Torrey Pines, the schedule looks like this:
2009 - Bethpage - This is a good venue, but the Open was played there seven years prior. That's too little time between championships.
2010 - Pebble Beach - It's hard to argue against Pebble. I think they play there every ten years, which is fine. The only negative is that it serves up another highly likely major for Woods.
2011 - Congressional - This is a fine choice. No complaints.
2012 - Olympic - It's another fine venue and always a strong test.
2013 - Merion - It's been a long time since the Open has been to Merion, but it's about time. I'm glad they figured out how to make it work given the tight spaces around the course for fans and media. My only concern is that the club might have made a deal with the devil: supposedly they are going to redo the greens after the 2009 Walker Cup. I've played Merion, and if they screw with the greens, the members are going to regret it. I guess it's another million in Fazio's pocket.

Beyond 2013, no one except the suits at the USGA have any clue where the Opens will be held. Here are my recommendations:

2014 - Pacific Dunes - The pros would love this course, and the weather would be perfect in June.
2015 - Los Angeles Country Club - The membership won't want it, but it would be worth pleading for it.
2016 - Chicago Golf Club - Classic venue with tons of history. It would be cool to see this exclusive course on TV.
2017 - Shadow Creek - Wouldn't it be totally awesome to have the US Open in Vegas?
2018 - Wade Hampton - This course outside of Asheville, NC would be unlike anything ever seen in an Open. A mountain course would be a totally different and fresh test for the best in the world.
2019 - Scioto - This is Jack Nicklaus' boyhood course. He's going to be redoing the greens this year, and 2019 would be the 60th anniversary of his first US Amateur title. Cool, huh?

My guess it that of all of my recommendations, the only two that have a legitimate shot at hosting an Open anytime soon are Pacific Dunes and Chicago Golf. During the 2014-2019 period, several past venues will most certainly be picked. That's a bit unfortunate, because the PGA of America has been trumping the USGA of late in picking new and different courses, such as Whistling Straits. The USGA should never lose sight of its tradition, but they should not be blinded by it.

Any suggestions from the Networked Golfer faithful?

USGA Says: What Have You Done for Me Lately?

2007-06-14T17:00:00.000-04:00

Just for kicks, I thought I would list a few players who were shut out of the U.S. Open this year because they were not exempt and didn't make it through qualifying. Even though all of the "very top" golfers play in the Open every year, I tend to think this tournament is too exclusive and hands out about ten too few exemptions. It's also ironic that an "Open" is so exclusive. Thoughts?

Raphael Jacquelin - won earlier this year in Europe...currently 9th in the Order of Merit standings
Thomas Levet - often plays well in majors...lost playoff to Els at Open Championship in 2002
Paul McGinley - Ryder Cup stalwart year after year
Jean van de Velde - he needs no introduction
Matt Kuchar - former US Amateur Champ who has been playing very well lately
Heath Slocum - my second favorite player from Milton, FL...currently 35th on the money list
Bill Haas - former US Amateur runner-up...nice player
Bo Van Pelt - makes lots of money but can't find the winner's circle
Jesper Parkevik - former top 10 player in the world looking to regain form
Troy Matteson - five top 10s in 2006
Tom Lehman - Ryder Cup captain played in the final group of the US Open three years in a row
John Senden - winner on Tour in 2006...ranked 62 in the world
Jamie Lovemark - recently won the NCAA individual title...swept every college award
Jose Coceres - ranks 4th in scoring average and 80th in the world rankings...has two second place finishes already in 2007
Jason Gore - played in final group of 2005 US Open...fan favorite who has struggled lately
J.B. Holmes - winner as a rookie in 2006...one of the best young bombers on Tour
Corey Pavin - former US Open winner at Shinnecock
Tommy Armour III - all-around fun guy
Mark Calcavecchia - won already in 2007 and a dozen other times before that
Miguel Angel Jimenez - one of the best players from Europe in the past 20 years

Guest Article by Bryan Nourse: Unfair or Challenging?

2007-06-13T16:46:00.000-04:00

The following article was submitted this afternoon by the one and only Bryan Nourse, of Fishers, IN. As a single-digit handicapper who has played courses from Cypress Point to L.A. Country Club, Noursey Boy knows his golf. Bryan dissects the course, its history, and how the players will stand up to Oakmont's challenge as one of the toughest golf courses in the world. Enjoy!

The US Open will be taking place this week at the very historic Oakmont Country Club outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is hosting its 8th US Open and the most in US Open history. It has also hosted 5 US Amateur Championships, 3 PGA Championships, 1 women’s US Open (they let women out there?) and several NCAA Division 1 Men's Championships. Much of the talk this year is whether the course is unfair or just challenging to the world's best.

Is it unfair? Let me give you some numbers and commentary. Oakmont Country Club will be playing at a par 70 at 7,355 yards. Its current course rating is 78.6 with a slope of 150. It has a par three (8th Hole) that is measured at 288 yards where most players will be forced to hit driver and will undoubtedly come up short. Out of the 213 players on tour, only 71 of them currently have an average driving distance of 288 yards or higher. The 3rd tier rough is cut at 5 ½ inches. The average fairway width is only 27 yards. Players unanimously agree that par will win this tournament. When The Golf Channel asked Tiger Woods in a press conference what he thought was the easiest hole on the course, he merely responded with, “The 19th.” Analysts are predicting +3 as the winning figure. Sergio mentioned it could possibly be 4 more than that. Phil Mickelson was quoted as saying holes 7 thru 10 are the toughest holes in golf. The greens are a chilling 13-14 on the Stimpmeter, and the undulations are described as excruciating. The greens are so fast that the great Gene Sarazen had a putt in the 1935 Open where the ball finally came to stop at the bottom of a bunker. Palmer three putted 11 times in the 1962 Open. Speaking of sand and bunkers, Oakmont has 210 of them. And if there is a tie after 72 holes, you still gotta go another day to get your name on the trophy. Is it unfair?

Or, is it just a challenge? Let me give you some numbers and commentary. Oakmont is only 7,355 yards, not exactly short, but by no means the longest on Tour. The players say it’s not a bombers course. Oakmont has cut down more than 5000 trees over the past 10 years, which has opened up tee shots. Oakmont once had 350 bunkers, but they have been reduced to 210 over the years, and there is absolutely no water on the course. Good scores can be made. Johnny Miller shot 63 in the final round in the ’73 Open at Oakmont. Ben Hogan and Ernie Els have both won an Open at Oakmont with a total score of 5 under. Ben didn’t even have the benefit of the technological advancements in golf equipment or the golf ball. And finally in his practice round this Tuesday, Trevor Immelman aced the par 3 eighth hole with a pulled 3-wood.

So I ask you…unfair? Or just a challenge? My vote is this Open is gonna be one hell of a challenge.

Interactive Poll: Who's going to win this week?

2007-06-13T14:29:00.000-04:00

Networked Golfer would like to hear from you about the U.S. Open at Oakmont. Let's see how much you know!

Networked Golfer Makes the Early Call on Wie

2007-06-06T10:57:00.000-04:00

Humbleness aside, I have to say Networked Golfer was on top of Michelle Wie's phantom injury before most of the press. It's looking like her act is wearing a little thin. It's about time, don't you think?

Excellent Article on Donald Trump and His Golf Empire

2007-06-05T18:21:00.001-04:00

This article by Michael Bamberger of SI made me laugh. Love him or hate him, you have to hand it to The Donald. He's a piece of work.

Now I need to figure out how Networked Golfer can get Bamberger's kind of assignments...

Arriving at the Course in Style

2007-06-01T16:19:00.000-04:00

With my 12 handicap, I don't always play very well, but I try to look good on the course to distract my playing partners from my wayward shots and missed five footers. The white belt I purchased this spring from Beltmaster has really helped me in the style department. I also like wearing threads from Loud Mouth Golf to stir the pot.

However, looking good on the course is only half of the recipe. Looking good on your way to the course makes even the most pedestrian round worthwhile.

I was very pleased with myself last year because I played three different rounds of golf in which I took a boat to the course. The first one was in Bermuda, the second was in Coeur d'Alene, and the third was at my brother Jimmy's club, Bayonne Golf Club. I had never taken a boat to play golf in my life, and here I was doing it three times in about eight months. No matter what kind of rig you drive, boating to the course just feels cooler.

Still, it's not as cool as arriving for your round in a private plane or a helicopter. I have not partaken in either of these indulgences (maybe I need some new friends...), but brother Jimmy will be utilizing Bayonne's helicopter tomorrow. It's about a seven minute flight from Manhattan, and they will land on the course's helipad near the driving range, which is a chip shot from the eighteenth green.

Do you have an experience you'd like to share about arriving to the golf course in style? Maybe your friend has a Bentley or a Rolls that you've rolled up in. Or, a Gulfstream V?

Share your stories in the comments section.

Sketchy WD by Wie

2007-05-31T16:05:00.000-04:00

There's nothing like a good Michelle Wie story to take me out of my blogging slumber.

If you hadn't heard, Wie was back today for her first competitive round of golf in several months after a wrist injury sidelined her. It was far from a successful return. She withdrew after 16 holes citing that she "tweaked" her wrist again.

After reading this article about her WD, the withdrawal sounds very sketchy. Wie was fourteen over par with two holes to go, and if she shot an 88 or worse, she would be banned from playing in LPGA tournaments for the entire year.

What's the tactful way to say it? I think it's, "How conveeeeennient..." The article says, "Wie made a final bogey on No. 7. As she headed to the tee, she was stopped by her manager, Greg Nared. The two chatted for a few moments before they called an LPGA official to end the round."

So basically, the chat went like this:

Nared: Uh, your highness, can I have a word with you?
Wie: Yeah, but make it really quick. I need to bogey on outta here and get back to the hotel.
Nared: I don't think you understand. Two more bogeys, and you'll shoot an 88.
Wie: So what? I shoot 88s all the time when I play with the men.
Nared: This time, it's different. If you shoot an 88, you won't be able to play on the LPGA again for the rest of the year.
Wie: Says who?
Nared: Says the rule book. Of course you would never know that unless I grabbed you a minute ago right before you blew another one left into the parking lot. But that's the scoop. So you had better make a motion like your wrist is hurting and that you have to withdraw because of it.
Wie: Good idea. I'll fake it. The media will buy the story because they think I'm the best golfer ever. They haven't noticed that I stink. Either way, I'm laughing all the way to the bank. Will I be able to play next week, or do you think I should pretend I need a few more months to let my wrist heal?
Nared: We'll talk about that later. I'll come up with something to tell the press.

Isn't it obvious? Whose manager does these things? Michelle was obviously clueless about the rule and had to WD before signing her scorecard.

Prediction: She never breaks 75 competitively again.

Good Mental Tip from T. Woods

2007-04-24T10:42:00.000-04:00

I'm a huge advocate of focusing on the mental side of golf, especially since I've recognized that it may be the biggest weakness in my own game. Of course, you cannot be a physical wreck but have a perfect mental approach and expect to play well. However, when you have some decent skills and want to take your game to the next level, your attitude and what goes on in your head will make all the difference.

I was surprised to read that Tiger Woods had never played Oakmont until this past weekend. He was there to prep for the U.S. Open and to put on a little show for some heavy Amex users. This little exchange (full article) between Tiger and one of the "regular folks" at Oakmont really says a lot about how Tiger thinks about his game.

Woods hit a stinger 3-iron on the 428-yard third hole with a slight breeze at his back, making sure he stayed out of the "Church Pew" bunkers that separate the third and fourth fairways, long strips of grass in the sand that look like benches.

"Can you hit one from the Church Pews?" someone said to him.

"No," Woods replied with a grin.

"Will you teach us how?" the man said.

"How to play out of it? You hit it right here," Woods said, pointing to the short grass in the fairway. "I go crazy when I watch guys in practice round play shots from a drop area. Why bring negativity into your thoughts? I only practice from where I expect to play."

Tiger's golf game is so good, that he might not need much practice out of fairway bunkers, unlike the rest of us. Still, having a positive attitude and almost KNOWING that he'll be in the fairway illustrates one reason why he is so good. This an excellent lesson for the everyday hacker like me.

Golf and Business

2007-04-20T20:27:00.000-04:00

Some cool things have happened in the world of golf in the past week, including Boo Weekley breaking through in Hilton Head and Curtis Strange and Hubert Green being elected to the Golf Hall of Fame.

But rather than rehash what you've already read, I thought my faithful readers would want to read about why playing golf is good for business and one's career. Here's a quickie that makes the case for golf improving one's career, especially if you are of the female persuasion.

Logo Watch

2007-04-13T12:06:00.000-04:00

Last week when Jay and I were in Augusta for a Masters practice round, we got a kick out of checking out which logos the patrons had on their shirts and hats. We called it being on "Logo Watch".

At first, we noticed the logos unconsciously. But after a while we began to notice that the patrons were "bringing the heat", meaning they were sporting their best logo wear, and we couldn't help but try to decipher every logo that passed by.

It was amusing how hard everyone was trying to show off their best logos. I had a shirt on from Cabo del Sol, and Jay was without a logo entirely. Probably 40% of all the people had something on from Augusta or the Masters, and just about every top golf course and country club from around the world was represented. I gave extra credit to those who wore shirts or hats from their home courses. This demonstrated a significant amount of pride in courses that most people would never recognize by sight or by name.

For logo connoisseurs, there are a few logos that are immediately recognizable. Some of the ones that come to mind (and we saw most of these) are Pine Valley, Merion, Shinnecock, Burning Tree, L.A.C.C., Winged Foot, Bandon Dunes, Pinehurst, Seminole, Cypress Point, and Kapalua. It's difficult for a designer to come up with an original logo these days that stands out without explicitly naming the course beneath the logo.

Even with originality at a premium, I find it frustrating when a logo is some sort of crest or shield that looks very much like other crests and shields, forcing logo watchers like me to have to squint to read it or walk right up next to the guy to identify it.

Logo design shouldn't be taken lightly because you never know who's looking. Especially at the Masters.

No Official USGA Handicap? Check Out MyGolfRecord

2007-04-12T11:09:00.000-04:00

If you're not a member of a country club, obtaining and maintaining an official USGA handicap is a real hassle. Thankfully, there are plenty of websites where you can track your handicap using the USGA formula. I have kept my handicap on several of these sites, and the one I like the best is MyGolfRecord.

MyGolfRecord was recently redesigned, and the owner of the site solicited suggestions from the users to make the site better. As far as I can tell, he listened to what people were saying, and the site is easier to use and has more features than ever before.

What I really like about the site is how one is able to keep track of statistics like fairways hit, greens in regulation, sand saves, putts per GIR, and even driving distance. It also keeps track of eagles, birdies, pars, etc. My favorite new stat is stroke average. I believe stroke average is the most important stat of all. Currently, my stroke average is a bit over 91, and my goal by July 4th is to get it to 89.

If you don't have an official USGA handicap or you haven't found a good site online to keep track of your scores and statistics, look no further than MyGolfRecord.

Update on Gorman Bros. Golf Weekend

2007-04-10T17:29:00.000-04:00

The details for the Gorman Brothers Golf Weekend in South Jersey are nearly final. We are still tying up a few loose ends, but the major pieces are in place.

Friday, April 27th
--We have three groups teeing off beginning at 7:51am at the Bay Course at Seaview.
--We have six groups teeing off beginning at 2:06pm at Twisted Dune.
--Dinner back at the house after Twisted Dune around 7:30pm.
--The draft party will begin at 9:00pm.
--The Calcutta/Parimutuel Hybrid team selection event takes place at around 9:30pm.

Saturday, April 28th
--Gorman Brothers Invitational begins at 1:05pm at Sand Barrens.
--Tournament winners, long drive winner, and closest-to-pin champion will be crowned after the tournament.
--Dinner back at the house around 7:00pm.
--We have a bus reserved for AC leaving around 10:00pm.
--In AC, the champions of the Gorman Brothers Invitational will wager their winnings at the roulette wheel or blackjack table.

Sunday, April 29th
--We have five groups teeing off beginning at 10:16am at McCullough’s Emerald Links.
--Go home.

A comprehensive document about the weekend's activities will be emailed to all participants within the next seven days.

The Masters -- A Few More Items

2007-04-09T18:06:00.000-04:00

Yesterday's final round of the Masters Tournament was a welcome surprise. Zach Johnson did what I've been waiting so long for other players to do -- stand tough against Tiger in a major. Tiger did his part to beat himself, but Johnson by no means backed into the winner's circle. Hopefully something will click for other Tour pros, and they will begin to believe that Tiger is not invincible. If there is a Tour-wide shift of mindset, the next few years will be very exciting.

Like many people, I was glad to see the back nine birdies and eagles on Sunday. Had yesterday been like Saturday, the Masters' unique position as the baddest tournament in the world would have been in jeopardy. I'm sure Fazio, Hootie, et al breathed a sigh of relief that +5 did not win the tournament.

I found this little gem of an article a few days ago and have been waiting to post it. It is a tremendous account about how tough of a ticket the Masters is. It makes me think that the easiest way for me to get access to the tournament in the future will be to have a press pass issued to Networked Golfer. Enjoy!

Test Time at Augusta

2007-04-08T09:30:00.000-04:00

I'd like to write a scathing story about the train wrecks all over Augusta yesterday afternoon. I hadn't been that sick to my stomach since the ride home from Magic Mountain in fifth grade at Eric Atkinson's birthday party when Jared Chow took the brunt of my churros and nachos grande. However, reviewing what happened to 10+ of the top players in the world when they made the turn in front of Tiger Woods would only make me feel worse.

Instead, I want to talk about three tests that should be administered at Augusta before every Masters Tournament. One test is for the players, the second test is for the patrons, and the third test is for the members.

Test One - Psychological Test
Each player in the Masters field save Tiger Woods, Seve Ballesteros, Ben Crenshaw, Fuzzy Zoeller, and Gary Player should be required to take a psychological test shortly after arriving at Augusta. After an intensive written and oral examination, the doctor should take each player's pulse and blood pressure. During these tests, the doctor should mention things like "Tiger Woods", "Buick Spokesman", "Earl Woods", "Cablinasian", "Elin", "Green Jacket", and "Tee Shot on 12". If there is a spike in the player's heart rate or blood pressure, the player might be disqualified from the tournament. If his blood pressure spikes only at the mention of "Elin", he'll be allowed to play. The reason for this test is to weed out early everyone who doesn't deserve to win the tournament because of their mental weakness.

Test Two - Masters Knowledge
During the Monday practice round, Jay and I kept shaking our heads in amazement at how uninformed the patrons (esp. the louder ones) around us were about the Masters, Augusta National, and golf in general. We decided that as a pre-requisite to obtaining entrance for practice rounds and tournament rounds, you have to answer at least six out of ten correctly on the following test. Here are the questions:

1) Which holes comprise Amen Corner?
2) Who won the first Masters?
3) How many Masters did Arnold Palmer win?
4) What is Ben Crenshaw's nickname?
5) Among these players, who won the most Masters titles? a) Jimmy Demaret, b) Bernhard Langer, c) Tom Watson, d) Seve Ballesteros
6) Which two men founded Augusta National?
7) What "trophy" does the winner of the Masters receive?
8) Name the two par 5s on the back nine.
9) Name three holes on the course that have water in play.
10) How many Masters titles did Gren Norman win?

Test Three - Bobby Jones Appreciation Assessment
Augusta National has been changed quite a bit in the past ten years, and now it hardly resembles the course Bobby Jones envisioned back in the early thirties. I don't think Jones would be disappointed with all of the changes concerning added length, but nearly all of the other changes made to the golf course run counter to his design philosophy. Holes one, four, seven, eleven, fourteen, fifteen, and seventeen most definitely have him rolling in his grave.

Fortunately, many of these changes can be undone if the members say so. The third test that I'm calling for is a full-blown assessment of each Augusta member's appreciation for Bobby Jones' vision for how Augusta should be played, why he thought the way he did, and how the course as it plays today is contrary to what was intended. After the assessment, each member would be required to write a 600 word essay on what he could personally do to restore the design elements Jones and Mackenzie desired.

Thoughts from Augusta

2007-04-05T19:52:00.000-04:00

Needless to say, I had a great time at the Monday Masters practice round. As you have all heard a million times, you can't quite understand what makes Augusta so special until you walk the grounds. Here are a few of the highlights from Monday:

Chatting Up Steve Stricker: This wasn't as lengthy a conversation as we had in 2001 with Jim Nantz, but my friend Jay Payne did offer up some words of encouragement to Steve Stricker, whom we followed around for a few holes. Steve seemed like a cool guy, and though we're pulling for him, his opening round 75 isn't looking very stellar.

Watching Brett Wetterich Hit Bombs on Eleven: We spent some time hanging around the 11th tee box, and were fortunate enough to see Wetterich hit two MONSTER drives. He didn't like the first one (it only went about 300 and was a little to the right), but he gave the patrons a wry, knowing smile after his second one, which had to have traveled about 330. I also overheard him talking to one of his playing partners, Larry Mize, and he seemed very deferential to Mize, a former Masters champion. So, Jay and I immediately became Wetterich fans and were glad to see him leading after the first round.

Seeing Seve Chip on Three: We made sure to catch a few holes of The Spanish Armada (Seve, Miguel Angel, and Ollie), and it was worth it. We dubbed them the "Nina", the "Pinta", and the Jose "Santa Maria" Olazabal. Seve might hit it sideways, but we saw him hit about eight chips to a precarious part of the green that must be one of the traditional pin placements. It was incredible to see him stop each of the chips on a dime only a few feet from each other with his buttery hands. Even though he probably won't break 80 this week, he still has a ridiculous short game. This one knucklehead near us asked his buddy if he thought he could beat Seve if he was given two a side. Moron...

Watching Tom Watson Play Thirteen: I've always liked Watson, and if he could put together a few days of solid putting, I think he could contend. That probably won't happen, but when watching him, it's obvious that he loves Augusta and won't be giving up his privilege to play anytime soon, a la Faldo. Strangely, he was playing his practice round with Andy North, who is not exempt from the Masters. It was cool watching Watson hit pitches over Rae's Creek and spend lots of time on and around the green hitting to various pin positions. He made a comment about how things would go on Sunday, so we just knew he still has that competitive fire.

Hanging Out at the Putting Green: One of the coolest things to do at Augusta is to watch the players on the practice green. Here, we saw nearly everyone. They all have different drills and routines, and Henrik Stenson stood out for his focus. We really liked how all of the players came over to Adam Scott to congratulate him and give him guff for his win in Houston last week. We couldn't hear much of what was said, but he seemed to take the ribbing like a champ. Another highlight was listening to O'Meara give Vijay a bunch of crap about how Vij will probably never play on the Champions Tour because he won't need the money. Vij was smiling, but he also looked like he wanted to rip O'Meara's head off.

More commentary tomorrow...

Heading to Augusta

2007-03-29T20:16:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow, Jay Payne and I will begin working our way down to Augusta to watch the Masters practice round on Monday. I'm very much looking forward to getting back there again and am curious to see if I will notice the changes that have been made to the course in the past few years. The last time I was at Augusta was in 2001, and most of the changes before then involved length.

On our way down, we'll be playing Duke University Golf Club, Bryan Park (Champions), Tot Hill Farm, and Clemson's Walker Course.

Boo Weekley: Goofball or Godsend?

2007-03-09T17:33:00.000-05:00

Much has been made recently of Boo Weekley. If you don't know who he is yet, pay attention to the golf websites and TV during the next few months; I guarantee you'll hear about him.

Boo qualified for the Tour in 2002, but he couldn't cut it. He was way out of his depth socially, and due partially to his discomfort with new environment and with the pressure that accompanies playing in big tournaments, he couldn't keep his card. However, he's back and better than ever.

He has quite a game, but his personality and hillbilly tendencies make him stick out from all of the other Tour players, including John Daly. There are some hicks banging around, but none are as unsophisticated as Weekley. His exploits with chewing tobacco, cotton allergies, camouflage, and sneakers are well-known, and his "aw-shucks" attitude are dividing golf fans everywhere.

I think the Tour needs more guys like Boo. It needs characters who are not putting people on or acting out a role. It needs the genuine article, a naif who throws around "nothings" and "aints" like someone out of a William Faulkner novel. He might not be the kind of guy you'd hang out with on the weekend, nor would he be your first choice as a business partner, but he sure makes the vanilla Tour more entertaining when he's in contention.

In last week's Honda Classic, Boo was 39 inches away from stardom. He missed the putt. He admitted that he was shaking like a leaf, but he actually put a nice stroke on it; it was just way too hard. So, he went into extra innings with Jose Coceras, Camilo Villegas, and Mark Wilson. The four golfers demonstrated how diverse the Tour is (two Latin Americans, one clean-cut player, and one hillbilly), but you have to figure most of the audience (and the Tour brass) were rooting for anyone but Boo to win.

Me? I was hoping Boo would have made the putt in regulation or won in the playoff. Mark Wilson, the eventual winner, was gritty, didn't give up, and made putts from everywhere to stay alive. Hats off to him. He's very likeable. But Boo would have made an interesting champion who could be a Godsend for a Tour that could use as many true characters as it can find.

How U.S. Players Can Stop Being Whipped at Match Play

2007-02-23T18:54:00.000-05:00

At the Match Play in Arizona, there are eight players remaining from the original field of sixty-four. Only one of the eight, Chad Campbell, is American. Before he beat David Toms today, there had been only five Americans left in the round of sixteen.

What does this say about the state of American golf? Well, except for Tiger, Phil, Furyk, and Charles Howell lately (and occasionally Toms and Campbell), the Americans are not deep at all in the top ranks of golf. Only seven out of the top 25 in the World Rankings are American. Incredibly, there are five Aussies in the top 25,

Once you get past the top three Americans, ranked 1-3, there's a huge dropoff. Why has this happened?

Some pundits say it's the money. Others say it's the grind of college golf and its focus on perfect swings instead of winning tournaments. Still others say that rather than inspiring others to raise their games to his level, Tiger has made American talents less interested in doing what it takes to be the best.

I don't think any of these excuses hold up to closer inspection. The Europeans and others are winning majors, team matches, and other significant tournaments like never before, and all of them are making big money, many of them play college golf in America, and they've all been playing against Tiger for years.

The most significant reason they aren't excelling is that they haven't taken to globalization. What exactly do I mean by that?

Golf is more global than any other sport. In the Match Play, players represented eighteen countries. That's amazing when you think about it. Twenty-three are American (Henry got in when Schwartzel declined the invitation), but the other forty-one came from seventeen other countries.

So why is globalization not helping the Americans? Shouldn't it benefit them to play against everyone from everywhere? Actually, they really aren't competing against them much outside of the U.S., and this is why their version of "global golf" is false.

You see, the Yanks will only travel overseas for monster appearance fees in Asia and the Middle East. And only a few of them (Tiger is one) even bother to go abroad when money is talking. They need to play in Europe and Asia more. If they do not, the trend of foreign players with more complete games stomping all over them will continue.

It used to be that if you wanted to get good and test your mettle against the best, you had to play a full schedule in the States. Now, this is not enough. One must seek out opportunities to play abroad to challenge all takers on unfamiliar courses. This is the only way to continue to improve. PGA venues are similar, and the travel isn't very rigorous. It makes a player soft.

Playing on the European Tour exposes a player to more competition, a greater variety of courses, and hardens you through a difficult travel schedule. If I were a PGA pro who had more money than I needed (and many of them do), I would take a year off from the Tour and sign up to play in Europe. By my count, the European Tour is playing tournaments in twenty-four countries in 2007.

Traveling, seeing different courses, playing in a variety of weather conditions, learning about other cultures, and playing against all comers is true globalization. Maybe an aging player like Brad Faxon (who claims to love playing in the UK), needs to step up and give this idea a shot. I suspect it would open his eyes to what modern professional golf is all about and rejuvenate his career. Should he be successful, others would take note and give it a try. He might even start a trend.

The PGA Tour is protective of its supreme position as the #1 tour in the world, but it shouldn't be. It should grant up to ten players each year a sabbatical to play elsewhere and not have it affect their standing on the U.S. tour. Maybe they can even arrange a foreign exchange policy with the other tours to encourage true globalization. It would be a win-win for all involved.

All of this does not discount the fact that there are some promising young Americans on the scene. A few that come to mind are Anthony Kim, Bubba Watson, J.B. Holmes, Bill Haas, Kevin Stadler, Ryan Moore, Troy Matteson, Sean O'Hair, Jeff Quinney, Charley Hoffman, Nick Watney, and Will Mackenzie. But other than maybe Holmes, Watson, and Moore, which of those players really make guys like Paul Casey and Henrik Stenson blink?

We're going to see more laughers like this weekend's Match Play far into the future until Americans start playing a serious global schedule. It's going to be humbling to watch if you bleed red, white and blue.

Best New Courses of 2006 (For Me)

2007-02-21T00:01:00.000-05:00

There are a heck of a lot of "best new" lists circulating. However, since most of the courses are far from home, extremely expensive, or private, I rarely have a chance to play any of the hottest new courses in the world.

However, I do make a point each year of playing as many courses as possible that may not be new, but are new to me. In 2006, I played twenty-one courses I had never played before. Unofficially, my record for new courses in one year is twenty-three, which I accomplished in 2001.

Here are my personal Five Best New Courses for 2006:
1) Bayonne Golf Club -- Bayonne, NJ
2) Cabo del Sol (Ocean) -- Los Cabos, Mexico
3) NCR Country Club (South) -- Kettering, OH
4) Cabo del Sol (Desert) -- Los Cabos, Mexico
5) Bulle Rock Golf Club -- Havre de Grace, MD

I have my sights set on several top courses in 2007 when the weather turns better. I don't know if I'll be able to match my stellar 2006, but Lord knows I'm gonna try.

Have any of you recently played excellent courses for the first time that you think I should seek out?

Faldo Thinks Chuck Howell Has Game to Challenge Tiger

2007-02-19T16:27:00.000-05:00

If you didn't catch yesterday's telecast of the Nissan (Los Angeles) Open, you missed one of the better finishes I can remember. From Mickelson being Mickelson to Charles Howell draining putts all over the place and making par from a cart path on the second playoff hole, it had everything.

I'm impressed by Nick Faldo's TV analysis. He's funny, candid, and very knowledgeable. It's obviously too early to tell if he's right, but before the playoff between Howell and Mickelson, he predicted that Howell might have taken his game to a level where he can consistently push and challenge Tiger and Phil. I don't think Nick made those comments without carefully considering them first.

How the rest of the season plays out will determine if Faldo is correct in his assessment of CH3. Charlie was once touted as the "chosen one" to give Tiger a run for his money. That hasn't happened, but all signs are pointing to a more mature, confident and consistent CH3. No one has ever argued his massive talents. It will be interesting to see if he can build upon yesterday's win and start thinking he should be among the best players in the world.

Who is Phil Mickelson?

2007-02-18T15:09:00.000-05:00

Phil Mickelson doesn't quite divide golf fans the way teams like the Dallas Cowboys, the New York Yankees or Notre Dame does. Lots of fans love him and pull for him in every tournament. And yet, there are many people out there who claim his smiling, shoot-from-the-hip public persona is "put on".

Stories of his generosity and his marathon autograph signing sessions have become legendary. He gives more time to fans after his rounds than just about any other player, and he gives a ton of money to charities. Still, his giving of his time and money do not impress many skeptics who are confident he's just an actor who really couldn't give a darn about anyone but himself.

I'm not Phil's #1 fan, but I do tend to think he's a good guy. Read this story and decide for yourself.

Can you imagine any other athlete doing what he did for the Doblers?

DD Looking Sharp in the Desert

2007-01-18T10:31:00.000-05:00

It might have been obscured by Robert Allenby's blistering 63 yesterday, but David Duval got off to a very clean start at the Hope Classic yesterday. He shot five under with no bogeys.

As most people remember, DD put together a very promising comeback campaign in 2006. He's only played one round, but it looks like he might be able to build on last year and make some serious noise in 2007. No one's ever questioned his talent, but his drive and his confidence definitely took a hit from 2002-2005. It looks like he has found both of those important elements again.

Networked Golfer roots for several players every week they tee it up, and DD is one of them. Here are a few of the others (in no particular order):

1) Jason Gore
2) Ernie Els
3) Charlie Wi
4) Ryan Moore
5) Stuart Appleby

I know there are lots of Tiger and John Daly fans out there, but I'm wondering who else (underdogs, maybe?) people root for. Let me know!

Bayonne Makes T&L Golf List

2007-01-16T18:41:00.000-05:00

My brother Jimmy is a member at Bayonne Golf Club. Needless to say, it's an incredible track, made even better because of its location along the Hudson River. It has views of the New York skyline from almost every hole, but the course doesn't rely on the views for the accolades it's been receiving. I played it this past summer with Jimmy, Tim Maxwell and Jack Hession, and I owe everyone a post about the experience. It will be coming soon.

In the meantime, I received my new issue of Travel & Leisure Golf in the mail today, and it lists Bayonne as one of the Top 10 New Courses in the World. Nice work, Jimmy. When am I going to be invited back to play?

No More Michelle Wie Bashing

2007-01-15T19:03:00.000-05:00

This blog is officially a Bash Free Zone for Michelle Wie. It's a place for her to take refuge from her many critics in the media.

On Networked Golfer, Michelle can forget her most recent train wreck at the Sony Open, where she finished Friday 14 shots outside of the cut and 25 shots out of the lead. Here, she can tune out everyone who says she shouldn't be playing with the men. Our site is a respite from the harrowing memories Michelle must be experiencing from embarrassing herself a few months ago in Japan, Europe, and Pennsylvania, where she finished last or second to last against the men. Networked Golfer can be Wie's sanctuary from her inconsistent overall game and lackluster putting that plagued the second half of her 2006 LPGA campaign.

Sorry we can't help her hide out from her overbearing, know-it-all father, B.J. Wie. He's the one responsible for getting her into this mess in the first place.

My prediction for her in '07 is that she wins once on the LPGA at a weak field event, but she will continue to struggle. And, her sponsor exemptions on the guy's tour will start to dry up (it's about time). If she wins nothing, she could go into such a tailspin that she'll become the Jennifer Capriati of women's golf.

Like I said, we're not bashing her here...

More Gorman Bros. Invitational Draft Details

2007-01-11T17:46:00.001-05:00

After the draft party on April 27th, teams will be able to trade players. The trade deadline will be midnight Friday.

It has been suggested by Mike Grady that we incorporate a "combine" into draft day. He recommends that each player hit 5-10 shots at the range in front of the discerning eyes of the team captains. I think this is a good idea. A player's stock can go up or down as a result of such a workout, so this feature will bring extra credibility to the process.

As Player-GMs, the captains will not have to workout at the combine. I see this as a positive for a short-knocker like me.

Draft Will Be Used at 2007 Gorman Brothers Invitational

2007-01-09T20:24:00.000-05:00

Though the details are still muddy, the 2007 version of the Gorman Brothers Invitational on April 28th will feature a draft to determine the four-man teams. This idea was brought to the table over the weekend by my brother Patrick.

The number of captains is obviously contingent upon how many players enter, but it has been decided that the captains will definitely be:

1) Me (Charter Member)
2) Patrick Gorman (Charter Member)
3) Jim Borger (Charter Member)
4) Jim Tyre (Charter Member)
5) Jimmy Gorman
6) Tubby Gorman
7) Billy Murphy (Charter Member) - if he shows up for the weekend

Alternate captains will be chosen by seniority and family affiliation. It's not the golf mafia, but there are similarities. The draft order will be determined by a putting contest on Friday afternoon, and the Draft Party will be held on Friday night, April 27th.

Any ideas to help us hash out the finer points are welcome in the comments section below.

Watching Pros Play for Each Others' Money Would Be MONEY!!

2007-01-08T15:07:00.000-05:00

Golf gets a lot of kudos for being a sport in which prize money (or salary) is not guaranteed. The players on the PGA Tour and all of the lesser tours have to qualify for each tournament, pay an entry fee, pay for their travel to the tournament, and then play well enough to make the cut. Otherwise, they slam their trunks on Friday afternoon with significantly lighter wallets.

I think the play-for-pay format is terrific. Aside from sponsorships, there are really no guarantees and no long-term deals. Signing bonuses just don't happen in golf, because each player is his own team. The players like to call themselves "independent contractors", and in a way, that's exactly what they are.

However, wouldn't it be more exciting if they were playing with their own money instead of the millions of dollars put up by the tournament sponsor?

My idea is to round up a bunch of hot-shot players (a field of 125 would be fine) and have them play with their own dough, much like us hackers do. That would be real pressure.

I haven't decided on a format, but they could all post their own cash and play a Calcutta, or they can set up a bracket like in the Match Play events and bet predetermined sums of money each round. As they move through the tournament, they would play for more of their own money.

When a sponsor ponies up $6 million for everyone to play for, it's like playing with house money. How cool would it be if they were staking themselves against the field? I think it would create huge interest from fans and would make for compelling television. They could play it in the Bahamas or Costa Rica where gambling isn't an obstacle.

Thoughts on how it would be set up?

Gotta Love Fantasy Golf

2007-01-04T15:28:00.000-05:00

Today is the first round of the Mercedes Championship at the Plantation Course at Kapalua. Stuart Appleby is again the defending champion, but the most exciting thing about the start of the season is that it also begins the Fantasy Golf season.

A few years ago I began playing fantasy golf on pgatour.com. My friend Jack Hession turned me on to the fantasy game on Yahoo.com last year. I think I ended the year in 4th place (out of 12), but I'm not satisfied. This season I will dominate.

It sounds kind of goofy to play fantasy golf, but it's actually really fun and a great way to stay on top of the goings-on of the Tour. It's not too late to start, so email me if you want to get into our group. There's a decent chunk of change at stake for the winners.