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Fox Sports is planning a new spin on golf coverage. When the division's new 12-year, $1 billion deal with the U.S. Golf Association begins in 2015, viewers can expect "the Fox attitude, energy, enthusiasm and toughness," says Eric Shanks, co-president of the Fox Sports Media Group. "We'll work hand in hand with the USGA to tell the stories through technology and interesting on-air personalities."
Does that mean slow and steady golf is getting a jolt? Fox is likely to bring more cameras and technical innovation to its coverage, as it did with its score box in baseball and its fluorescent puck in hockey, as well as more promotion across all of the Fox networks in an effort to attract golf's more casual fans. "Can we do things that maybe haven't been done before," adds Shanks, "things fans can appreciate that bring the sport into their living rooms in a way that is a bit more compelling?" In addition to the U.S. Open, Fox Sports will air about 146 hours of amateur golf events as well as ancillary programming such as documentaries, post-tournament shows and footage from the USGA archives.
The golf world was shocked when ESPN and NBC (and its sister network the Golf Channel), which have held the USGA's rights since 1994, lost not only the U.S. Open but also top tournaments for women and seniors. Under the previous deal, the USGA reportedly received about $37 million a year. NBC/Golf Channel is said to have offered as much as $80 million a year.
Shanks and Fox declined comment on the financial terms of their new agreement, which sources say is $100 million a year.
Although NBC, the Golf Channel and CBS still will carry the PGA Tour through 2021, USGA golf will air exclusively on the Fox broadcast network, Fox regional channels and Fox Sports 1, the national cable network launching Aug. 17. Of course, the biggest question facing Fox is whether Cleatus, Fox NFL Sunday's robotic mascot, will cross over to a new sport. "We haven't spoken to Cleatus' agent or any of the other robots' agents," jokes Shanks, "about their ability to swing a golf club."
Fox Sports' New Golf Deal: Why the Division Paid $1 Billion
Does that mean slow and steady golf is getting a jolt? Fox is likely to bring more cameras and technical innovation to its coverage, as it did with its score box in baseball and its fluorescent puck in hockey, as well as more promotion across all of the Fox networks in an effort to attract golf's more casual fans. "Can we do things that maybe haven't been done before," adds Shanks, "things fans can appreciate that bring the sport into their living rooms in a way that is a bit more compelling?" In addition to the U.S. Open, Fox Sports will air about 146 hours of amateur golf events as well as ancillary programming such as documentaries, post-tournament shows and footage from the USGA archives.
The golf world was shocked when ESPN and NBC (and its sister network the Golf Channel), which have held the USGA's rights since 1994, lost not only the U.S. Open but also top tournaments for women and seniors. Under the previous deal, the USGA reportedly received about $37 million a year. NBC/Golf Channel is said to have offered as much as $80 million a year.
Shanks and Fox declined comment on the financial terms of their new agreement, which sources say is $100 million a year.
Although NBC, the Golf Channel and CBS still will carry the PGA Tour through 2021, USGA golf will air exclusively on the Fox broadcast network, Fox regional channels and Fox Sports 1, the national cable network launching Aug. 17. Of course, the biggest question facing Fox is whether Cleatus, Fox NFL Sunday's robotic mascot, will cross over to a new sport. "We haven't spoken to Cleatus' agent or any of the other robots' agents," jokes Shanks, "about their ability to swing a golf club."
Fox Sports' New Golf Deal: Why the Division Paid $1 Billion
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The U.S. Amateur is full of polished young players with bright futures, but one stuck out on the second day of match play here at the historic Country Club.
His name is Matt Fitzpatrick, an 18-year-old Englishman, who advanced Thursday to the quarterfinals with two commanding wins on the Rees Jones redesigned course that is hosting its sixth U.S. Amateur. In both his morning and afternoon matches, Fitzpatrick beat his opponents 4 and 3. He will face Adam Ball on Friday. "It's nice to be here and doing well," Fitzpatrick said. "I'm pretty pleased to give myself a chance."
Fitzpatrick, who is headed to Northwestern in the fall to play golf, was the low amateur last month at the Open Championship with a tie for 44th.
At first glance, his boyish looks bring to mind an altar boy or one of the little kids that escort the players of his beloved Sheffield United Football team into Bramall Lane Stadium.
"Small" and "light" is how he describes his slight build.
That's probably what the Muirfield security guard was thinking in July, when he attempted to block the British Boys champion from getting balls on the range before the start of the Open Championship. The guard asked Fitzpatrick if he was getting balls for Tiger Woods, who was also at the practice facility.
But then you watch Fitzpatrick's composure on the golf course and you learn quickly that he's mature well beyond his years or innocent-looking face. He has a solid golf swing with a good short game.
Fitzpatrick is poised to be the next Luke Donald, set to be like his older countryman: a star at Northwestern, a Walker Cupper, Ryder Cupper and international pro star.
Donald, Ian Poulter and U.S. Open champion Justin Rose are all former star English boys players and set an excellent template for Fitzpatrick to follow.
"The comparisons are nice," said Fitzpatrick, who noted that Donald played no role in his decision to attend Northwestern. "I can't deny that. But I don't want things to get out of hand with 'he's going to be this, he's going to be that,' when I'm still 18 with lots of time."
At Muirfield, Fitzpatrick had Rickie Fowler and Hunter Mahan sign his golf bag after playing in a practice round with them. In the first two rounds, he played with Jordan Spieth and Russell Henley, two young players he is certain to face down the road if he makes it to the PGA Tour. But he is in no rush to join them in the pro ranks. He wants to attend college so he will have something to fall back on if the golf doesn't work out.
Though Fitzpatrick was star struck with being in the company of all his golfing heroes, he wasn't surprised with how well he played in his first major championship.
"I didn't have any expectations," he said. "I was used to that sort of play on links courses, so for me it was just taking one shot a time. The Open week was the best week of my life by a mile."
Even with that performance at Muirfield and being the second ranked amateur in the world, he feels no pressure to win this week at the Country Club.
"I wouldn't say that I'm under pressure at any event because at the end of the day, all you can do is play your best," he said. "If it's not your day, it's not your day."
Still, he will benefit from the experience at Muirfield in his upcoming quarterfinal match on Friday.
"I think having the big crowds and being on TV holds you in good stead for something like this," Fitzpatrick said. "No offense to the U.S. Am, but it's a bit smaller than the Open Championship.
"But don't get me wrong, the crowds here are fantastic. I can't believe how strong they are. I quite enjoy playing in front of a crowd."
On Thursday, Fitzpatrick noted the comparisons between Muirfield and the Country Club. Both courses, he said, play fast and firm with deep rough and tight fairways. The major difference, he offered, was that Muirfield didn't have the Country Club's rough around the greens.
An Englishman hasn't won the U.S. Amateur since Harold Hilton took it in 1911 at the Apawamis Club in Rye, N.Y. Now with Neil Raymond's 1-up win over Nathan Holman, there will be two Englishmen in the final eight.
The GB&I hasn't made its Walker Cup picks for the biennial matches against the United States, so there is more at stake here than just winning this championship for Fitzpatrick.
"Making the Walker Cup is definitely a target for me," he said. "I knew that if I played well here it would improve my chances so the further I get the bigger increase."
Coming into the media center in the Curling building at the Country Club, Fitzpatrick ran into Raymond.
"You can put it on the record," said the playful 27-year-old Raymond, who is the oldest player left in the matches, pointing to Fitzpatrick. "This is the greatest player, the Silver Medal winner of the Open Championship."
By Sunday night, Raymond could be adding another honorific to Fitzpatrick's name.
Matt Fitzpatrick inches closer to history at U.S. Amateur -- Golf - ESPN
His name is Matt Fitzpatrick, an 18-year-old Englishman, who advanced Thursday to the quarterfinals with two commanding wins on the Rees Jones redesigned course that is hosting its sixth U.S. Amateur. In both his morning and afternoon matches, Fitzpatrick beat his opponents 4 and 3. He will face Adam Ball on Friday. "It's nice to be here and doing well," Fitzpatrick said. "I'm pretty pleased to give myself a chance."
Fitzpatrick, who is headed to Northwestern in the fall to play golf, was the low amateur last month at the Open Championship with a tie for 44th.
At first glance, his boyish looks bring to mind an altar boy or one of the little kids that escort the players of his beloved Sheffield United Football team into Bramall Lane Stadium.
"Small" and "light" is how he describes his slight build.
That's probably what the Muirfield security guard was thinking in July, when he attempted to block the British Boys champion from getting balls on the range before the start of the Open Championship. The guard asked Fitzpatrick if he was getting balls for Tiger Woods, who was also at the practice facility.
But then you watch Fitzpatrick's composure on the golf course and you learn quickly that he's mature well beyond his years or innocent-looking face. He has a solid golf swing with a good short game.
Fitzpatrick is poised to be the next Luke Donald, set to be like his older countryman: a star at Northwestern, a Walker Cupper, Ryder Cupper and international pro star.
Donald, Ian Poulter and U.S. Open champion Justin Rose are all former star English boys players and set an excellent template for Fitzpatrick to follow.
"The comparisons are nice," said Fitzpatrick, who noted that Donald played no role in his decision to attend Northwestern. "I can't deny that. But I don't want things to get out of hand with 'he's going to be this, he's going to be that,' when I'm still 18 with lots of time."
At Muirfield, Fitzpatrick had Rickie Fowler and Hunter Mahan sign his golf bag after playing in a practice round with them. In the first two rounds, he played with Jordan Spieth and Russell Henley, two young players he is certain to face down the road if he makes it to the PGA Tour. But he is in no rush to join them in the pro ranks. He wants to attend college so he will have something to fall back on if the golf doesn't work out.
Though Fitzpatrick was star struck with being in the company of all his golfing heroes, he wasn't surprised with how well he played in his first major championship.
"I didn't have any expectations," he said. "I was used to that sort of play on links courses, so for me it was just taking one shot a time. The Open week was the best week of my life by a mile."
Even with that performance at Muirfield and being the second ranked amateur in the world, he feels no pressure to win this week at the Country Club.
"I wouldn't say that I'm under pressure at any event because at the end of the day, all you can do is play your best," he said. "If it's not your day, it's not your day."
Still, he will benefit from the experience at Muirfield in his upcoming quarterfinal match on Friday.
"I think having the big crowds and being on TV holds you in good stead for something like this," Fitzpatrick said. "No offense to the U.S. Am, but it's a bit smaller than the Open Championship.
"But don't get me wrong, the crowds here are fantastic. I can't believe how strong they are. I quite enjoy playing in front of a crowd."
On Thursday, Fitzpatrick noted the comparisons between Muirfield and the Country Club. Both courses, he said, play fast and firm with deep rough and tight fairways. The major difference, he offered, was that Muirfield didn't have the Country Club's rough around the greens.
An Englishman hasn't won the U.S. Amateur since Harold Hilton took it in 1911 at the Apawamis Club in Rye, N.Y. Now with Neil Raymond's 1-up win over Nathan Holman, there will be two Englishmen in the final eight.
The GB&I hasn't made its Walker Cup picks for the biennial matches against the United States, so there is more at stake here than just winning this championship for Fitzpatrick.
"Making the Walker Cup is definitely a target for me," he said. "I knew that if I played well here it would improve my chances so the further I get the bigger increase."
Coming into the media center in the Curling building at the Country Club, Fitzpatrick ran into Raymond.
"You can put it on the record," said the playful 27-year-old Raymond, who is the oldest player left in the matches, pointing to Fitzpatrick. "This is the greatest player, the Silver Medal winner of the Open Championship."
By Sunday night, Raymond could be adding another honorific to Fitzpatrick's name.
Matt Fitzpatrick inches closer to history at U.S. Amateur -- Golf - ESPN
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FedEx dropped off two giant boxes at PGA Tour star Luke Donald’s suburban Chicago McMansion on a recent morning. The contents:
200 pounds of frozen Miyazaki beef, a trophy from a recent tour win in Japan. Donald hoists one side of a box, and, alarmed at the potential damage to a back that has chalked up over $30 million in winnings on the PGA Tour, I grab the other side. We hump it across the house into his garage, where the majestically marbled beef, which retails for about $250 a pound, awaits its new home–a meat refrigerator that Donald purchased specifically for this shipment.
If you missed the memo, Luke Donald is not your average sleep-and-eat-golf jock. He majored in art at Northwestern, where he met his wife, Diane. He lives primarily in suburban Chicago, versus some gated Sunbelt resort community. And he grew up in England watching his parents sip Bordeaux, his dad a mainstay of the local wine society.
Donald has taken Dad’s fondness for fine wine and turned it into full-fledged devotion. His personal label, the Luke Donald Collection, will appear on 72,000 bottles of California chardonnay, viognier and, in a hat tip to his parents, a Bordeaux-style red blend that carries the classic British description claret.
In marrying golf and wine, Donald, who briefly held the world’s number one ranking last year, joins an impressive number of pitch-and-putt drink purveyors. Australian Greg Norman, of course, helped put his country’s grapes on the wine map; South Africans Ernie Els and David Frost also have labels from their homeland. Brand names like Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer treat their wines like product extensions. Even golf announcers are getting in on the act: Jim Nantz named his California wine, naturally, The Calling.
Like most celebrities, Donald has embraced the concept of doing business with other people’s money. Terlato Wines, America’s largest marketer of premium wine, fronts the money, while Donald gets a royalty cut. “It’s pretty low-risk,” concedes Donald.
But here’s where Donald blazes a different trail: He takes a hands-on approach to every facet of the process. Donald helped design the modern, modular label, fronted by his dramatic signature. He helped source the grapes. Donald even helps blend the juice itself. “I wanted it to be my style–contemporary European,” he says.
Of course, contemporary European-style wine using top California grapes costs. Donald’s wine retails between $30 and $50, leading to something of a paradox: People who buy wine based on a celebrity’s name don’t pay 50 bucks a bottle–and people who pay 50 bucks a bottle don’t buy based on a celebrity’s name. “We had to put a product out there to turn people’s heads,” says Donald. While not quite head-turning, his chardonnay is certainly grin-inducing, like a lively, crisp Burgundy.
Donald’s real wine education started on the greens during college, where he shared a golf coach with Bill Terlato, Terlato’s second-generation CEO. “I had a passion for golf,” says Terlato, a six handicap. “He had a passion for food and wine.” They began swapping respective tips, and after Donald turned pro and began cashing big checks, he asked Terlato to help him build out his collection.
The stash has grown to 800 bottles, all stored below the meat refrigerator in a glass-enclosed, climate-controlled cellar that Donald customized with a metallic floor and stained wood. It’s guarded by a password-coded keypad, and, once inside, you see that the wine racks fan out clockwise: champagnes on the far left, including vintage Dom Perignon and Bollinger (the tony “house pour”). Then come whites, followed by reds, ranging from light to heavy. The far right? “That’s the ‘do not touch’ area for my wife.”
“Yes, he has plenty of showy reds, from Insignia to Opus One to his favorite, the 1985 Lynch Bages. But as with all true aficionados, his favorites carry a backstory: the case of Vega Sicilia Unico from Spain’s Ribera del Duero that Sergio Garcia gave him for his wedding; a bottle of George pinot noir, from Sonoma, courtesy of another member of the Chicago golfing mafia, Michael Jordan. Even the pata negra ham, teed-up on a special holder, has an interesting provenance: It was a gift last year from European Ryder Cup captain José María Olazábal. Donald mixes these ego assets with a few “good deals at Costco,” including a bottle of 1999 Faustino Rioja that also graces my wine fridge.
“By 2007 Donald had demonstrated enough know-how and determination–and made enough of a name for himself on the course–to persuade Terlato to move forward with a label. The first bottle hit the shelves five years ago, and they’ve sold several million dollars’ worth of wine since. As I sit through a boozy lunch with his lineup, it’s easy to hear Donald glide toward foodie pretension. (“The rapini takes the edge off,” Donald notes while washing down lamb with his namesake red.)
“Donald harbors thoughts about expanding his wine holdings after he retires from the PGA Tour (“though you can play until you’re 60,” notes the 35-year-old). He holds an option to buy part of a Napa vineyard from which he sources grapes. Until then he is focused on the winter house he’s building in Jupiter, Fla. He is making wine the house’s centerpiece, with a glass-enclosed tasting room, complete with a dining room table. And, since you never know when Sergio Garcia might show up bearing gifts, this time he’s amping up the cellar capacity to accommodate a proper 1,000 bottles.
How PGA Golf Star Luke Donald Aced the Wine Business - Forbes
200 pounds of frozen Miyazaki beef, a trophy from a recent tour win in Japan. Donald hoists one side of a box, and, alarmed at the potential damage to a back that has chalked up over $30 million in winnings on the PGA Tour, I grab the other side. We hump it across the house into his garage, where the majestically marbled beef, which retails for about $250 a pound, awaits its new home–a meat refrigerator that Donald purchased specifically for this shipment.
If you missed the memo, Luke Donald is not your average sleep-and-eat-golf jock. He majored in art at Northwestern, where he met his wife, Diane. He lives primarily in suburban Chicago, versus some gated Sunbelt resort community. And he grew up in England watching his parents sip Bordeaux, his dad a mainstay of the local wine society.
Donald has taken Dad’s fondness for fine wine and turned it into full-fledged devotion. His personal label, the Luke Donald Collection, will appear on 72,000 bottles of California chardonnay, viognier and, in a hat tip to his parents, a Bordeaux-style red blend that carries the classic British description claret.
In marrying golf and wine, Donald, who briefly held the world’s number one ranking last year, joins an impressive number of pitch-and-putt drink purveyors. Australian Greg Norman, of course, helped put his country’s grapes on the wine map; South Africans Ernie Els and David Frost also have labels from their homeland. Brand names like Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer treat their wines like product extensions. Even golf announcers are getting in on the act: Jim Nantz named his California wine, naturally, The Calling.
Like most celebrities, Donald has embraced the concept of doing business with other people’s money. Terlato Wines, America’s largest marketer of premium wine, fronts the money, while Donald gets a royalty cut. “It’s pretty low-risk,” concedes Donald.
But here’s where Donald blazes a different trail: He takes a hands-on approach to every facet of the process. Donald helped design the modern, modular label, fronted by his dramatic signature. He helped source the grapes. Donald even helps blend the juice itself. “I wanted it to be my style–contemporary European,” he says.
Of course, contemporary European-style wine using top California grapes costs. Donald’s wine retails between $30 and $50, leading to something of a paradox: People who buy wine based on a celebrity’s name don’t pay 50 bucks a bottle–and people who pay 50 bucks a bottle don’t buy based on a celebrity’s name. “We had to put a product out there to turn people’s heads,” says Donald. While not quite head-turning, his chardonnay is certainly grin-inducing, like a lively, crisp Burgundy.
Donald’s real wine education started on the greens during college, where he shared a golf coach with Bill Terlato, Terlato’s second-generation CEO. “I had a passion for golf,” says Terlato, a six handicap. “He had a passion for food and wine.” They began swapping respective tips, and after Donald turned pro and began cashing big checks, he asked Terlato to help him build out his collection.
The stash has grown to 800 bottles, all stored below the meat refrigerator in a glass-enclosed, climate-controlled cellar that Donald customized with a metallic floor and stained wood. It’s guarded by a password-coded keypad, and, once inside, you see that the wine racks fan out clockwise: champagnes on the far left, including vintage Dom Perignon and Bollinger (the tony “house pour”). Then come whites, followed by reds, ranging from light to heavy. The far right? “That’s the ‘do not touch’ area for my wife.”
“Yes, he has plenty of showy reds, from Insignia to Opus One to his favorite, the 1985 Lynch Bages. But as with all true aficionados, his favorites carry a backstory: the case of Vega Sicilia Unico from Spain’s Ribera del Duero that Sergio Garcia gave him for his wedding; a bottle of George pinot noir, from Sonoma, courtesy of another member of the Chicago golfing mafia, Michael Jordan. Even the pata negra ham, teed-up on a special holder, has an interesting provenance: It was a gift last year from European Ryder Cup captain José María Olazábal. Donald mixes these ego assets with a few “good deals at Costco,” including a bottle of 1999 Faustino Rioja that also graces my wine fridge.
“By 2007 Donald had demonstrated enough know-how and determination–and made enough of a name for himself on the course–to persuade Terlato to move forward with a label. The first bottle hit the shelves five years ago, and they’ve sold several million dollars’ worth of wine since. As I sit through a boozy lunch with his lineup, it’s easy to hear Donald glide toward foodie pretension. (“The rapini takes the edge off,” Donald notes while washing down lamb with his namesake red.)
“Donald harbors thoughts about expanding his wine holdings after he retires from the PGA Tour (“though you can play until you’re 60,” notes the 35-year-old). He holds an option to buy part of a Napa vineyard from which he sources grapes. Until then he is focused on the winter house he’s building in Jupiter, Fla. He is making wine the house’s centerpiece, with a glass-enclosed tasting room, complete with a dining room table. And, since you never know when Sergio Garcia might show up bearing gifts, this time he’s amping up the cellar capacity to accommodate a proper 1,000 bottles.
How PGA Golf Star Luke Donald Aced the Wine Business - Forbes
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One of the most highly regarded public-access golf courses in Wisconsin is for sale.
The Bog in Saukville, which hosted the 112th State Amateur Championship won by Jordan Niebrugge last month, has been listed for $6.5 million by the Insight Golf Group on behalf of owner Terry Wakefield.
The Bog was designed by Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay and opened in 1995.
Wakefield said he was selling the course primarily because of the increasing demands of running his consulting business, The Wakefield Co., which focuses on financial services.
"That business is exploding right now," he said. "I just don't have the bandwidth to be up there (at The Bog) engaging with the members and the customers like an owner should."
The Bog is ranked among the top 10 courses in the state by Golf Digest magazine and is known for its exceptional conditioning and fast greens. It has five sets of tees and measures 7,221 yards from the tips.
Among the tournaments it has hosted are the 2006 State Open, the 2005 State Women's Open, the 2003 Greater Milwaukee Open Pro-Am and the 1999 Great Lakes Amateur Championship.
"I'm proud of the product out there and the fact that the golf associations want to come back and have tournaments here," Wakefield said. "The feedback they get from the people who participate is always very positive. That's been an important part of our history and our success."
The Bog averaged 19,131 rounds per year from 2008-'12.
Wakefield, of Mequon, said a condition of sale would be that the new owner honors rounds pre-sold for 2014.
"We sell a lot of rounds of golf over the winter and we also sell a lot of memberships in October and November," he said. "We are going to make sure the owner honors those memberships.
"Frankly, that's my biggest worry, is that people will be skittish buying rounds of golf. It's going to be business as usual. All of the customers' rights are protected."
Wakefield said there was a secondary reason for selling The Bog.
"I am about at the end of realizing the tax benefits associated with depreciation," he said. "The looming end is an incentive to sell the property. A buyer can come in, re-depreciate these assets and realize tax benefits in addition to a positive cash flow."
Wakefield said he spent between $10.5 million and $11 million to acquire the land and build The Bog.
"There is an opportunity for someone to buy the property for a lot less than the original cost," he said. "If you were to start from scratch today, the same course would cost between $15 million and $20 million to build.
"The good news is that the banks' willingness to finance existing golf courses is growing. A lot of money is flowing back into the golf business in terms of financing existing properties."
The Bog golf course put up for sale
The Bog in Saukville, which hosted the 112th State Amateur Championship won by Jordan Niebrugge last month, has been listed for $6.5 million by the Insight Golf Group on behalf of owner Terry Wakefield.
The Bog was designed by Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay and opened in 1995.
Wakefield said he was selling the course primarily because of the increasing demands of running his consulting business, The Wakefield Co., which focuses on financial services.
"That business is exploding right now," he said. "I just don't have the bandwidth to be up there (at The Bog) engaging with the members and the customers like an owner should."
The Bog is ranked among the top 10 courses in the state by Golf Digest magazine and is known for its exceptional conditioning and fast greens. It has five sets of tees and measures 7,221 yards from the tips.
Among the tournaments it has hosted are the 2006 State Open, the 2005 State Women's Open, the 2003 Greater Milwaukee Open Pro-Am and the 1999 Great Lakes Amateur Championship.
"I'm proud of the product out there and the fact that the golf associations want to come back and have tournaments here," Wakefield said. "The feedback they get from the people who participate is always very positive. That's been an important part of our history and our success."
The Bog averaged 19,131 rounds per year from 2008-'12.
Wakefield, of Mequon, said a condition of sale would be that the new owner honors rounds pre-sold for 2014.
"We sell a lot of rounds of golf over the winter and we also sell a lot of memberships in October and November," he said. "We are going to make sure the owner honors those memberships.
"Frankly, that's my biggest worry, is that people will be skittish buying rounds of golf. It's going to be business as usual. All of the customers' rights are protected."
Wakefield said there was a secondary reason for selling The Bog.
"I am about at the end of realizing the tax benefits associated with depreciation," he said. "The looming end is an incentive to sell the property. A buyer can come in, re-depreciate these assets and realize tax benefits in addition to a positive cash flow."
Wakefield said he spent between $10.5 million and $11 million to acquire the land and build The Bog.
"There is an opportunity for someone to buy the property for a lot less than the original cost," he said. "If you were to start from scratch today, the same course would cost between $15 million and $20 million to build.
"The good news is that the banks' willingness to finance existing golf courses is growing. A lot of money is flowing back into the golf business in terms of financing existing properties."
The Bog golf course put up for sale
Join:
2006/12/07
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29893
Goss was bidding to become the third Australian to win the US amateur title which Tiger Woods won three times before turning professional.
Fitzpatrick won 4 and 3 in the final over 19-year-old Goss who was hoping to join Nick Flanagan and three-times winner Walter J.Travis as US amateur champions.
After the morning round Goss had trailed by one hole but he squared the match on the first hole of afternoon play when Fitzpatrick was unable to convert a seven-foot par putt.
Fitzpatrick, who is number two in the world amateur golf rankings, won the next two holes then holes 32 and 33, to wrap up the championship.
Goss last year reached the quarter-finals of the US Amateur at Cherry Hills Country Club near Denver.
He made this year's final with a win over fellow Western Australian Brady Watt in the semi-final.
Watt went on to caddy for Goss in the final.
Both Goss and Fitzpatrick will earn a spot in next year's US Open and a likely invitation to the US Masters as a result of making the final.
Goss's golfing career has gone from strength to strength in the last 12 months.
Last year at the Perth International he was the highest finishing amateur.
He then went onto win the Western Australian Open after he beat Brady Watt in the sudden-death playoff.
He became the first amateur since Stephen Leaney in 1991 to win the championship and the first since Danny Lee in 2009, to win a PGA Tour of Australasia tournament.
Two weeks later, Goss was in the Australian Masters on a sponsor's invitation and was grouped with countryman Adam Scott and 2010 US Open champion Graeme McDowell.
Oliver Goss runner-up in US amateur golf title to England's Matt Fitzpatrick - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
Fitzpatrick won 4 and 3 in the final over 19-year-old Goss who was hoping to join Nick Flanagan and three-times winner Walter J.Travis as US amateur champions.
After the morning round Goss had trailed by one hole but he squared the match on the first hole of afternoon play when Fitzpatrick was unable to convert a seven-foot par putt.
Fitzpatrick, who is number two in the world amateur golf rankings, won the next two holes then holes 32 and 33, to wrap up the championship.
Goss last year reached the quarter-finals of the US Amateur at Cherry Hills Country Club near Denver.
He made this year's final with a win over fellow Western Australian Brady Watt in the semi-final.
Watt went on to caddy for Goss in the final.
Both Goss and Fitzpatrick will earn a spot in next year's US Open and a likely invitation to the US Masters as a result of making the final.
Goss's golfing career has gone from strength to strength in the last 12 months.
Last year at the Perth International he was the highest finishing amateur.
He then went onto win the Western Australian Open after he beat Brady Watt in the sudden-death playoff.
He became the first amateur since Stephen Leaney in 1991 to win the championship and the first since Danny Lee in 2009, to win a PGA Tour of Australasia tournament.
Two weeks later, Goss was in the Australian Masters on a sponsor's invitation and was grouped with countryman Adam Scott and 2010 US Open champion Graeme McDowell.
Oliver Goss runner-up in US amateur golf title to England's Matt Fitzpatrick - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
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The Solheim Cup victory was another plume in what has become a tribal headdress for golfers from the other side of the Atlantic. A European team led by Charley Hull, an irrepressible 17-year-old from England, put the finishing touches on its record 18-10 drubbing of the Americans hours after another British teenager, Matthew Fitzpatrick, 18, became the first Englishman in more than a century to win the United States Amateur. All kinds of Cups — Solheim, Ryder, Walker and Curtis — have taken residence, however temporarily, on the other side of the Atlantic, leaving the United States a few trophies short of a case. In the women’s game, the shift in the axis of excellence extends to the individual rankings, where the world’s top 10 includes five South Korean players, four more than the United States, which has Stacy Lewis at No. 2. After losing 8 of the first 11 Solheim Cups, Europe has won two in a row, with a margin of victory Sunday that was the most lopsided in the event’s 23-year history.
Meg Mallon, the United States team captain, bristled at the suggestion that the once-dominant Americans have become the underdogs. Mallon, seated next to Lewis, the reigning Women’s British Open champion, at Colorado Golf Club on Sunday night, playfully mussed her head and said: “Just a reminder that she’s holding one of their trophies. Just a little reminder, O.K. American golf is fine.”
The European team offered proof that there was nothing wrong with the United States system. Six European players, including Caroline Hedwall of Sweden and Carlota Ciganda of Spain, honed their games at American universities. (On the men’s side, it is more of the same as Fitzpatrick is headed to Northwestern.) Hedwall, a star at Oklahoma State, became the first player in Solheim Cup history to finish 5-0-0. Ciganda, who attended Arizona State, was unbeaten in three matches.
Meantime, the heart of the American lineup fibrillated at altitude. With her 5-0-0 record, Hedwall contributed the same number of points as the Americans’ core four of Lewis, Paula Creamer, Cristie Kerr and Morgan Pressel. Creamer, who came into the week with a 3-1 record in singles, was handed a 5-and-4 loss by Hull, a first-year professional who will soon try to earn her L.P.G.A. playing privileges. Angela Stanford, once ranked in the world top 10, was 0-4-0 and has not earned a point in the past two Solheim Cups.
“It was just making the key putts at the key moments,” Creamer said. “And they seemed to do that better than we did.”
She added: “I think we all had a great strategy, and it’s hard to say: people get good bounces, people get good breaks, this and that, putts lipped in. It’s enough about that, and we just didn’t get the job done.”
Suzann Pettersen of Norway, who compiled a record of 2-1-1, said the European breakthrough on American soil is “massive for women’s golf” because the more level the playing field, the higher the drama and interest.
Mallon agreed. “Win or lose, we just got 100,000 more new fans this week,” she said, referring to the number of spectators in attendance. “And that’s great for women’s golf.”
She added, “For us, this week is probably one of the most important weeks of the year in a two-year span because we get the most attention and people actually get to see how great these guys play under a tremendous amount of pressure.”
With Europe on the verge of retaining the Cup, an electrical storm blew through the area around Colorado Golf Club on Sunday afternoon, suspending play for 56 minutes. The players sought shelter in their team rooms, and the Americans listened raptly as Kerr, who was playing the last singles match, convinced them that it was not over, that the United States could still pull off a miracle comeback.
The fans must not have shared her optimism. At the first crack of thunder, they headed in droves for the exits, where the shuttle buses awaited. Would they have ridden out the storm if the United States had been the team on the verge of winning? The exodus of red, white and blue-festooned spectators with golf history on the verge of being made raises the question: did they come to revel in their patriotism or the golf being played?
The answer will be revealed if the 100,000 fans Mallon spoke about tune in this week to see how their favorite new athletes perform at the Canadian Women’s Open. Hull, who will be playing on a sponsor’s exemption, is one year older than the defending champion, Lydia Ko, a South Korean-born New Zealander.
Last year, the paths of Ko and Hull intersected at the Women’s British Open, which was Ko’s first start after she became the youngest winner on the L.P.G.A. Tour. An admiring Hull said: “She’s got a lot of experience, and she’s only 15. But golf, it’s not a race, you know.”
Tell that to the Americans, who have slipped back after decades spent setting the pace.
www-nytimes-com/2013/08/20/sports/golf/using-the-us-golf-system-to-help-defeat-the-us-html
Meg Mallon, the United States team captain, bristled at the suggestion that the once-dominant Americans have become the underdogs. Mallon, seated next to Lewis, the reigning Women’s British Open champion, at Colorado Golf Club on Sunday night, playfully mussed her head and said: “Just a reminder that she’s holding one of their trophies. Just a little reminder, O.K. American golf is fine.”
The European team offered proof that there was nothing wrong with the United States system. Six European players, including Caroline Hedwall of Sweden and Carlota Ciganda of Spain, honed their games at American universities. (On the men’s side, it is more of the same as Fitzpatrick is headed to Northwestern.) Hedwall, a star at Oklahoma State, became the first player in Solheim Cup history to finish 5-0-0. Ciganda, who attended Arizona State, was unbeaten in three matches.
Meantime, the heart of the American lineup fibrillated at altitude. With her 5-0-0 record, Hedwall contributed the same number of points as the Americans’ core four of Lewis, Paula Creamer, Cristie Kerr and Morgan Pressel. Creamer, who came into the week with a 3-1 record in singles, was handed a 5-and-4 loss by Hull, a first-year professional who will soon try to earn her L.P.G.A. playing privileges. Angela Stanford, once ranked in the world top 10, was 0-4-0 and has not earned a point in the past two Solheim Cups.
“It was just making the key putts at the key moments,” Creamer said. “And they seemed to do that better than we did.”
She added: “I think we all had a great strategy, and it’s hard to say: people get good bounces, people get good breaks, this and that, putts lipped in. It’s enough about that, and we just didn’t get the job done.”
Suzann Pettersen of Norway, who compiled a record of 2-1-1, said the European breakthrough on American soil is “massive for women’s golf” because the more level the playing field, the higher the drama and interest.
Mallon agreed. “Win or lose, we just got 100,000 more new fans this week,” she said, referring to the number of spectators in attendance. “And that’s great for women’s golf.”
She added, “For us, this week is probably one of the most important weeks of the year in a two-year span because we get the most attention and people actually get to see how great these guys play under a tremendous amount of pressure.”
With Europe on the verge of retaining the Cup, an electrical storm blew through the area around Colorado Golf Club on Sunday afternoon, suspending play for 56 minutes. The players sought shelter in their team rooms, and the Americans listened raptly as Kerr, who was playing the last singles match, convinced them that it was not over, that the United States could still pull off a miracle comeback.
The fans must not have shared her optimism. At the first crack of thunder, they headed in droves for the exits, where the shuttle buses awaited. Would they have ridden out the storm if the United States had been the team on the verge of winning? The exodus of red, white and blue-festooned spectators with golf history on the verge of being made raises the question: did they come to revel in their patriotism or the golf being played?
The answer will be revealed if the 100,000 fans Mallon spoke about tune in this week to see how their favorite new athletes perform at the Canadian Women’s Open. Hull, who will be playing on a sponsor’s exemption, is one year older than the defending champion, Lydia Ko, a South Korean-born New Zealander.
Last year, the paths of Ko and Hull intersected at the Women’s British Open, which was Ko’s first start after she became the youngest winner on the L.P.G.A. Tour. An admiring Hull said: “She’s got a lot of experience, and she’s only 15. But golf, it’s not a race, you know.”
Tell that to the Americans, who have slipped back after decades spent setting the pace.
www-nytimes-com/2013/08/20/sports/golf/using-the-us-golf-system-to-help-defeat-the-us-html
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2006/12/07
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When the final putt dropped Sunday at the 2013 Solheim Cup, the European team erupted into celebration as it finally defeated the United States team on American soil.
The truth of the matter, however, is that the victor had already been decided late Saturday afternoon as the Europeans opened a massive lead heading into Sunday.
If the 2012 Ryder Cup taught us anything, of course, it is that no lead is safe when it comes to team competition. In that event, the Americans once again got the short end of the proverbial stick, relinquishing what was believed to be an insurmountable lead to Jose Maria Olazabal's Euro squad. For Davis Love III's US team, it will always be remembered as the "Meltdown at Medinah."
Two team events, two massive defeats for the United States. What the heck is going on with Team America?
There may not be one specific reason why the last two team events have ended poorly for Old Glory, which only compounds the issue. There were multiple shortcomings on both the men's and women's teams, starting with two respective captain picks.
For the men, Tiger Woods -- undoubtedly the best golfer of this generation -- was a controversial captain choice for Love's Ryder Cup team. At the time, Woods was struggling substantially with his game and was nowhere close to qualifying for the team by way of point earnings. While Woods' individual career is that of legend, his Ryder Cup record flat out stinks. Woods went winless at the 2012 matches, appearing to be a mere mortal in the wake of Europe's torrid run to victory.
United States captain Meg Mallon's decision to include Gerina Piller on her Solheim Cup team is equally confusing. While Piller did manage a half-point for her team (0-2-1 overall), the inclusion of a rookie Cupper beside Mallon's second pick -- the unpredictable Michelle Wie -- did not seem like a strong option heading into the event. Hindsight is always 20-20, but Piller's inexperience showed throughout the weekend.
A similar story unfolds when you look at individual performances in this year's major championships. On the LPGA side, South Korean Inbee Park has dominated the major scene by winning the first three of the season. American Stacy Lewis managed to win the Women's British Open earlier this month -- her second career major -- but not without a sense of it being a consolation prize to history's missed opportunity. Park still has a chance to win four (!) majors in a year should she capitalize at the Evian Masters Championship in September.
For the men, Phil Mickelson's victory at the British Open gave the United States its first major of the year after Australia's Adam Scott and England's Justin Rose won the Masters and US Open, respectively. Jason Dufner's memorable performance at the PGA Championship this month tied the major scorecard to 2-2.
As the 2014 Ryder Cup is set to take place on European soil next year in Scotland, captain Paul McGinley will lead a confident team of players against the underdog American squad lead by Tom Watson. The 2015 Solheim Cup will also take place on foreign soil in Germany, where that Euro team will once again defend the cup.
For the American teams, now might be a good time to start working on a game plan for both events -- if it even matters.
Y! SPORTS
The truth of the matter, however, is that the victor had already been decided late Saturday afternoon as the Europeans opened a massive lead heading into Sunday.
If the 2012 Ryder Cup taught us anything, of course, it is that no lead is safe when it comes to team competition. In that event, the Americans once again got the short end of the proverbial stick, relinquishing what was believed to be an insurmountable lead to Jose Maria Olazabal's Euro squad. For Davis Love III's US team, it will always be remembered as the "Meltdown at Medinah."
Two team events, two massive defeats for the United States. What the heck is going on with Team America?
There may not be one specific reason why the last two team events have ended poorly for Old Glory, which only compounds the issue. There were multiple shortcomings on both the men's and women's teams, starting with two respective captain picks.
For the men, Tiger Woods -- undoubtedly the best golfer of this generation -- was a controversial captain choice for Love's Ryder Cup team. At the time, Woods was struggling substantially with his game and was nowhere close to qualifying for the team by way of point earnings. While Woods' individual career is that of legend, his Ryder Cup record flat out stinks. Woods went winless at the 2012 matches, appearing to be a mere mortal in the wake of Europe's torrid run to victory.
United States captain Meg Mallon's decision to include Gerina Piller on her Solheim Cup team is equally confusing. While Piller did manage a half-point for her team (0-2-1 overall), the inclusion of a rookie Cupper beside Mallon's second pick -- the unpredictable Michelle Wie -- did not seem like a strong option heading into the event. Hindsight is always 20-20, but Piller's inexperience showed throughout the weekend.
A similar story unfolds when you look at individual performances in this year's major championships. On the LPGA side, South Korean Inbee Park has dominated the major scene by winning the first three of the season. American Stacy Lewis managed to win the Women's British Open earlier this month -- her second career major -- but not without a sense of it being a consolation prize to history's missed opportunity. Park still has a chance to win four (!) majors in a year should she capitalize at the Evian Masters Championship in September.
For the men, Phil Mickelson's victory at the British Open gave the United States its first major of the year after Australia's Adam Scott and England's Justin Rose won the Masters and US Open, respectively. Jason Dufner's memorable performance at the PGA Championship this month tied the major scorecard to 2-2.
As the 2014 Ryder Cup is set to take place on European soil next year in Scotland, captain Paul McGinley will lead a confident team of players against the underdog American squad lead by Tom Watson. The 2015 Solheim Cup will also take place on foreign soil in Germany, where that Euro team will once again defend the cup.
For the American teams, now might be a good time to start working on a game plan for both events -- if it even matters.
Y! SPORTS
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There was a satisfying sense of familiarity, of comfort — of anticipation mostly — when Paula Creamer returned to the Royal Mayfair Golf Club.
In 2007, the last time an LPGA event was contested in Edmonton, Creamer finished second to Mexican Lorena Ochoa, so there’s history to draw on. That’s key, given that the American superstar has registered five top-10 results, but has yet to win a tournament this season.
That she’s coming off a loss to 17-year-old Charley Hull in last weekend’s Solheim Cup only adds to the draw of the tree-lined fairways, the thick grass, and the lightning quick greens.
“It’s my type of golf course. You have to put it in the right spot,” Creamer said on the eve of the tournament’s opening round. “The greens last week were so fast, I wasn’t really quite sure what to expect coming into the next tournament, and these are just as fast, so I kind of have that going for me.”
Of course, the 27-year-old from Mountain View, Calif., will have to contend with Inbee Park, the current leader in the LPGA rankings, if she is going to find her way back to the top of the leaderboard. Creamer’s last win was the 2010 U.S. Women’s Open.
“Inbee has been playing awesome. You’re kind of going against someone who is in a different level right now. She has so much confidence. She just really believes,” continued Creamer, who has registered nine LPGA victories and collected $9,594,379 in career earnings. “It’s tough to go against someone who is playing as well as she has been.
“But it’s making me get better, it’s making every other girl out there practise harder to get better to give her a challenge and to fight for it.”
Known as the Pink Panther, a nickname that pays homage to her love for the colour pink, Creamer has finished in the top 11 in four of her last five events, so her game is on track — something she may not have been able to say last season.
She’s adjusted her swing, likes the way she’s been putting, and has made it her goal to be consistently in contention.
“I just need that one moment of breakthrough, and I think it will be a big difference,” she said. “I think maybe last year was a tough year. I was just forcing things, trying to make things work. I’ve been in talks with my dad, and my coach, and my caddie, and now I’m just letting it happen.
“When you force things, you kind of get uneasy out there. I had to kind of step back and just really enjoy the process of trying to become better with my irons, become better at just golf in general. It will happen.”
Paula Creamer
In 2007, the last time an LPGA event was contested in Edmonton, Creamer finished second to Mexican Lorena Ochoa, so there’s history to draw on. That’s key, given that the American superstar has registered five top-10 results, but has yet to win a tournament this season.
That she’s coming off a loss to 17-year-old Charley Hull in last weekend’s Solheim Cup only adds to the draw of the tree-lined fairways, the thick grass, and the lightning quick greens.
“It’s my type of golf course. You have to put it in the right spot,” Creamer said on the eve of the tournament’s opening round. “The greens last week were so fast, I wasn’t really quite sure what to expect coming into the next tournament, and these are just as fast, so I kind of have that going for me.”
Of course, the 27-year-old from Mountain View, Calif., will have to contend with Inbee Park, the current leader in the LPGA rankings, if she is going to find her way back to the top of the leaderboard. Creamer’s last win was the 2010 U.S. Women’s Open.
“Inbee has been playing awesome. You’re kind of going against someone who is in a different level right now. She has so much confidence. She just really believes,” continued Creamer, who has registered nine LPGA victories and collected $9,594,379 in career earnings. “It’s tough to go against someone who is playing as well as she has been.
“But it’s making me get better, it’s making every other girl out there practise harder to get better to give her a challenge and to fight for it.”
Known as the Pink Panther, a nickname that pays homage to her love for the colour pink, Creamer has finished in the top 11 in four of her last five events, so her game is on track — something she may not have been able to say last season.
She’s adjusted her swing, likes the way she’s been putting, and has made it her goal to be consistently in contention.
“I just need that one moment of breakthrough, and I think it will be a big difference,” she said. “I think maybe last year was a tough year. I was just forcing things, trying to make things work. I’ve been in talks with my dad, and my coach, and my caddie, and now I’m just letting it happen.
“When you force things, you kind of get uneasy out there. I had to kind of step back and just really enjoy the process of trying to become better with my irons, become better at just golf in general. It will happen.”
Paula Creamer
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Matt Kuchar made the most of his short day at The Barclays in Jersey City, N.J.
Kuchar didn't tee off until Friday afternoon at Liberty National and knew he had no chance to finish. He could barely see his ball cross the water and set up a two-putt birdie on No. 13 that gave him the outright lead, and there was just enough light left to hit his tee shot on 14.
The horn sounded, and he was ready to go home.
Kuchar was at 10 under par with five holes left and had to return Saturday morning to hold his one-shot lead over Webb Simpson and Gary Woodland, who both finished the second round in the rain-delayed FedEx Cup playoff tournament.
Simpson had to play 29 holes -- 11 holes to finish his first round in the morning, followed by his second round. He ran off six birdies over an eight-hole stretch and had a 5-under 66.
"It's much nicer when you're playing well to keep playing," Simpson said. "I've got tonight to sleep and catch up on rest."
Woodland shot a second-round 64 to join Simpson in the clubhouse at 9-under 133.
As for Tiger Woods, he couldn't get off the course fast enough. He challenged the target set by Simpson with three birdies in five holes -- he was two shots behind. But he made three bogeys out of the bunker through the 12th hole to fall off the pace. He made birdie on the 13th, the last hole he completed, but was still five shots behind Kuchar, who was in his group.
"I got off to a great start and then lost it the middle part of the round and made too many mistakes," said Woods, who added his back remained sore from sleeping in a soft bed Wednesday. "I'm going to get treatment right now ... and be ready for tomorrow morning."
Kuchar stopped with his tee shot just short of the green on the par-3 14th, and he had no inclination to finish.
"We were down on the last hole, 13, kind of a little bit down the hole and it was dark," Kuchar said. "I wasn't sure we were going to tee off on 14." Phil Mickelson, trying to retool his game after his British Open win, had a second-round 69 and was at 2 under.
LPGA Tour: Inbee Park shot a 5-under 65 for a share of the second-round lead with playing partner Cristie Kerr in the Canadian Women's Open in Edmonton, Alberta.
Kerr, coming off the U.S.'s loss to Europe in the Solheim Cup, shot her second straight 66 for an 8-under 132 at Royal Mayfair.
Angela Stanford (68) and Karine Icher (66) were one shot back. Teen star Lydia Ko (69), who won last year at Vancouver Golf Club, was at 134.
Pleasanton native Paula Creamer (68) and 49-year-old Laura Davies (66) also were 6 under.
Michelle Wie missed the cut with rounds of 73 and 76.
Champions Tour: Bart Bryant opened with a 6-under 66 to take the Boeing Classic lead at TPC Snoqualmie Ridge (Wash.). Five days ago he won the Dick's Sporting Goods Open at Endicott, N.Y.
Golf: Matt Kuchar makes good use of short work day - San Jose Mercury News
Kuchar didn't tee off until Friday afternoon at Liberty National and knew he had no chance to finish. He could barely see his ball cross the water and set up a two-putt birdie on No. 13 that gave him the outright lead, and there was just enough light left to hit his tee shot on 14.
The horn sounded, and he was ready to go home.
Kuchar was at 10 under par with five holes left and had to return Saturday morning to hold his one-shot lead over Webb Simpson and Gary Woodland, who both finished the second round in the rain-delayed FedEx Cup playoff tournament.
Simpson had to play 29 holes -- 11 holes to finish his first round in the morning, followed by his second round. He ran off six birdies over an eight-hole stretch and had a 5-under 66.
"It's much nicer when you're playing well to keep playing," Simpson said. "I've got tonight to sleep and catch up on rest."
Woodland shot a second-round 64 to join Simpson in the clubhouse at 9-under 133.
As for Tiger Woods, he couldn't get off the course fast enough. He challenged the target set by Simpson with three birdies in five holes -- he was two shots behind. But he made three bogeys out of the bunker through the 12th hole to fall off the pace. He made birdie on the 13th, the last hole he completed, but was still five shots behind Kuchar, who was in his group.
"I got off to a great start and then lost it the middle part of the round and made too many mistakes," said Woods, who added his back remained sore from sleeping in a soft bed Wednesday. "I'm going to get treatment right now ... and be ready for tomorrow morning."
Kuchar stopped with his tee shot just short of the green on the par-3 14th, and he had no inclination to finish.
"We were down on the last hole, 13, kind of a little bit down the hole and it was dark," Kuchar said. "I wasn't sure we were going to tee off on 14." Phil Mickelson, trying to retool his game after his British Open win, had a second-round 69 and was at 2 under.
LPGA Tour: Inbee Park shot a 5-under 65 for a share of the second-round lead with playing partner Cristie Kerr in the Canadian Women's Open in Edmonton, Alberta.
Kerr, coming off the U.S.'s loss to Europe in the Solheim Cup, shot her second straight 66 for an 8-under 132 at Royal Mayfair.
Angela Stanford (68) and Karine Icher (66) were one shot back. Teen star Lydia Ko (69), who won last year at Vancouver Golf Club, was at 134.
Pleasanton native Paula Creamer (68) and 49-year-old Laura Davies (66) also were 6 under.
Michelle Wie missed the cut with rounds of 73 and 76.
Champions Tour: Bart Bryant opened with a 6-under 66 to take the Boeing Classic lead at TPC Snoqualmie Ridge (Wash.). Five days ago he won the Dick's Sporting Goods Open at Endicott, N.Y.
Golf: Matt Kuchar makes good use of short work day - San Jose Mercury News
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Tiger Woods has a pretty sharp sense of humor. You just have to be in on the joke.
For instance, after his Saturday round at The Barclays, he deadpanned to reporters that he told caddie Joe LaCava to meet him at the driving range after his media responsibilities.
If you hadn’t seen Woods’ third-round performance, it sounds like an innocuous comment. Just another example of a player who wants to get in a few more swings before sundown.
For those who witnessed his round, though, for those who watched him wince and grimace and twist and stretch all afternoon, it was easy to recognize this as simply his brand of sarcasm.
With back pain that was noticeably affecting him throughout the day, the last thing Woods wanted was a practice session on the range following a grit-through-it, grind-it-out round of 2-under 69.
“I hung in there,” he said of the round. “It's golf. You just kind of grind it out. It's a long day.”
Woods has issued similar comments after each of the first three rounds this week, his back pain becoming progressively worse as every round wears on. For a while in this one, it appeared that “hanging in there” wouldn’t include getting his name back on the first page of the leaderboard.
In fact, for much of the third round, a few notions permeated the thoughts of those watching him.
Maybe we’ve underrated these FedEx Cup Playoff events. Maybe we’ve failed to understand just how much they mean to him.
For years, Woods has explained to anyone who will listen that he holds the four major championships in higher regard than all other tournaments. And yes, that even includes the PGA Tour’s end-of-season bonus babies.
But how else were we to explain his performance throughout most of this day? He was treating the proceedings like he’s treated Moving Day at the majors lately. He entered the third round with a good chance of getting himself into position to win the next day and looked like he’d be exiting with less of a chance.
Alright, so maybe it wasn’t nerves or pressure or whatever other explanation/excuse you’d like to offer for his weekend struggles at majors over the past half-decade that was afflicting him at Liberty National.
Whatever has been causing so many major championship Moving Day sagas in recent years, it’s likely had more to do with technical mechanics and mental progressions than physical ailments.
This wasn’t a grind-it-out day in the sense that he just couldn’t get a feel for his long game or a rhythm with his putting. This was a grind-it-out day based on the pain he was feeling.
Sure, it was a far cry from the 2008 U.S. Open, when Woods won his 14th career major title on one leg, but the discomfort was obvious. From bending down to place his tee in the ground to reaching into the cup to pluck his golf ball and everything in between, he endured a level of anguish that was clearly affecting his result.
After stuffing his opening-hole approach shot to a foot for birdie, Woods bogeyed the third and fourth holes, then followed with another bogey on the seventh. It appeared, much like his increasingly regular Saturday performances at the majors, that this Moving Day would again find him moving in the wrong direction.
As he said, though, he hung in there and grinded it out.
Woods posted a bogey-free back nine that included birdies on three of his final six holes. A day that looked at one point like it would keep him from contention, turned right around. He started in a share of eighth place, five strokes off the lead; he ended in a share of fourth place, four strokes off the lead.
While he allowed afterward that he would continue receiving treatment on his back, Woods also broached the subject of Sunday’s final round with optimism. If he could stay in contention with physical pain, he could win if it finally dissipates.
“It starts off great every day, and then it progressively deteriorates as the day goes on,” he explained. “Hopefully tomorrow it will be one of those days again and fight through it and see if I can win a tournament.”
There’s no telling how Woods’ back will react the next time he swings a club on the range Sunday afternoon. Or how it will affect his play early in the round. Or how much pain he’ll feel as the day continues.
What we do know is that directly after his uncomfortable round on Saturday, the last thing he wanted was to hit another golf ball. But maybe that was one of those jokes where you just had to be there.
Tiger Woods Climbs Closer to Barclays Lead Despite Back Pain | Golf Channel
For instance, after his Saturday round at The Barclays, he deadpanned to reporters that he told caddie Joe LaCava to meet him at the driving range after his media responsibilities.
If you hadn’t seen Woods’ third-round performance, it sounds like an innocuous comment. Just another example of a player who wants to get in a few more swings before sundown.
For those who witnessed his round, though, for those who watched him wince and grimace and twist and stretch all afternoon, it was easy to recognize this as simply his brand of sarcasm.
With back pain that was noticeably affecting him throughout the day, the last thing Woods wanted was a practice session on the range following a grit-through-it, grind-it-out round of 2-under 69.
“I hung in there,” he said of the round. “It's golf. You just kind of grind it out. It's a long day.”
Woods has issued similar comments after each of the first three rounds this week, his back pain becoming progressively worse as every round wears on. For a while in this one, it appeared that “hanging in there” wouldn’t include getting his name back on the first page of the leaderboard.
In fact, for much of the third round, a few notions permeated the thoughts of those watching him.
Maybe we’ve underrated these FedEx Cup Playoff events. Maybe we’ve failed to understand just how much they mean to him.
For years, Woods has explained to anyone who will listen that he holds the four major championships in higher regard than all other tournaments. And yes, that even includes the PGA Tour’s end-of-season bonus babies.
But how else were we to explain his performance throughout most of this day? He was treating the proceedings like he’s treated Moving Day at the majors lately. He entered the third round with a good chance of getting himself into position to win the next day and looked like he’d be exiting with less of a chance.
Alright, so maybe it wasn’t nerves or pressure or whatever other explanation/excuse you’d like to offer for his weekend struggles at majors over the past half-decade that was afflicting him at Liberty National.
Whatever has been causing so many major championship Moving Day sagas in recent years, it’s likely had more to do with technical mechanics and mental progressions than physical ailments.
This wasn’t a grind-it-out day in the sense that he just couldn’t get a feel for his long game or a rhythm with his putting. This was a grind-it-out day based on the pain he was feeling.
Sure, it was a far cry from the 2008 U.S. Open, when Woods won his 14th career major title on one leg, but the discomfort was obvious. From bending down to place his tee in the ground to reaching into the cup to pluck his golf ball and everything in between, he endured a level of anguish that was clearly affecting his result.
After stuffing his opening-hole approach shot to a foot for birdie, Woods bogeyed the third and fourth holes, then followed with another bogey on the seventh. It appeared, much like his increasingly regular Saturday performances at the majors, that this Moving Day would again find him moving in the wrong direction.
As he said, though, he hung in there and grinded it out.
Woods posted a bogey-free back nine that included birdies on three of his final six holes. A day that looked at one point like it would keep him from contention, turned right around. He started in a share of eighth place, five strokes off the lead; he ended in a share of fourth place, four strokes off the lead.
While he allowed afterward that he would continue receiving treatment on his back, Woods also broached the subject of Sunday’s final round with optimism. If he could stay in contention with physical pain, he could win if it finally dissipates.
“It starts off great every day, and then it progressively deteriorates as the day goes on,” he explained. “Hopefully tomorrow it will be one of those days again and fight through it and see if I can win a tournament.”
There’s no telling how Woods’ back will react the next time he swings a club on the range Sunday afternoon. Or how it will affect his play early in the round. Or how much pain he’ll feel as the day continues.
What we do know is that directly after his uncomfortable round on Saturday, the last thing he wanted was to hit another golf ball. But maybe that was one of those jokes where you just had to be there.
Tiger Woods Climbs Closer to Barclays Lead Despite Back Pain | Golf Channel
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Masters champion Adam Scott didn't think his good round was good enough Sunday at The Barclays.
His caddie had already packed his golf clubs into a travel case. He viewed his visit to the CBS Sports tower as nothing more than a courtesy. His only hope was that the other players still on the course -- Tiger Woods and Justin Rose among them -- might find it as difficult to close out a victory as Scott has over the years.
"I'm pretty shocked," Scott said after his 5-under 66 gave him a one-shot win at Liberty National. "There were so many guys out there with a chance and I really didn't think I had much of a chance. If you hang around the lead long enough, you're going to win some, you're going to lose some. And this one went my way." Scott was watching from the locker room when Rose, who had a 25-foot putt for the outright lead, ran it 5 feet by the hole and three-putted for bogey. Clubs unpacked, Scott was on his way to the range when the groans from around the 18th green told him Woods narrowly missed his 25-foot birdie putt from off the back of the green to tie for the lead. Once on the range, a large video board showed Gary Woodland miss his third straight birdie putt from inside 10 feet.
"I guess it's different playing an hour-and-a-half in front of the leaders, the guys who have been under pressure all day than when you're out there," Scott said. "I know how they feel. When the pressure is on you to close out, it's much harder, and the holes become much harder and shots are far more crucial.
"I feel like I've been given a bit of a gift," he said. "But I'll take it."
Scott finished at 11-under 273 and moved to a career-best No. 2 in the world.
Woods suffered a back spasm on the par-5 13th hole and hooked a fairway metal so far left that it landed in a swamp on the other side of the 15th fairway. Woods dropped to all fours in pain before slowly getting up. He also dropped a shot on the 15th, and then gamely fought back with birdies on the 16th and 17th holes to get within one. His birdie putt from off the 18th green was one short turn of falling.
"Thought I made it," Woods said after his 69.
Woods had all four rounds in the 60s for the first time in a year on the PGA Tour, though it wasn't enough. He battled stiffness in his lower back all week, which he attributed to a soft bed in his hotel room -- the second straight year he has had back issues from a mattress at this event.
In a brief interview with CBS Sports, he said it was "hypothetical" when asked if he would compete in the Deutsche Bank Championship, the next playoff event that starts Friday on the TPC Boston. The tournament gives its charity money to Woods' foundation. Woods already missed the AT&T National this year, which also benefits his foundation. "I just got off and I'm not feeling my best right now," he said.
Rose wasn't feeling that great, either. He was in position to win the tournament with a birdie putt, and the U.S. Open champion did not want to leave it short. Instead, he knocked it by farther than he imagined, the ball stayed on the high side of the cup the whole way.
"I got too aggressive," said Rose, who closed with a 68. "I thought it was a putt to win the tournament. It's tough to take."
Kevin Chappell had a two-shot lead after a birdie on the 10th hole, but then played the next seven holes in 7-over par and closed with a 76. Woodland had a 73. Matt Kuchar, who shared the 54-hole lead with Woodland, fell back with a triple bogey on No. 9. His only birdie was on the 18th hole, and it gave him a 78.
"I found a way to hang in there and grind it out and gave myself a chance on the back nine on Sunday, which is everything you can ask for," Woodland said.
It was the second time Woods has missed a playoff by one shot at Liberty National.
Graham DeLaet of Canada, whose 65 matched Phil Mickelson for the low score of the final round, also tied for second. DeLaet will move up to No. 9 in the Presidents Cup standings, and with one week before qualifying ends, is in good shape to make the International team.
Scott won for the second time this year, and at least put himself into the conversation for PGA Tour player of the year if he were to go on to win the FedEx Cup. He is No. 2 in the standings behind Woods, though the $10 million prize does not come into view until the Tour Championship.
The first playoff event was packed with plenty of energy on a spectacular day across from the Statue of Liberty and the Manhattan skyline. Five players had at least a share of the lead at some point in the final round. Woods put up a great fight despite his back injury. Scott played the final 24 holes without a bogey.
Sunday also had some of the emotions found at Q-school for players whose season came to an abrupt end. And it was just as wild at the bottom.
Only the top 100 players in the FedEx Cup advance to the second playoff event next week outside Boston. Geoff Ogilvy could have joined them except for missing a 2-foot par putt on the final hole that ultimately knocked him out of the top 100.
Camilo Villegas, at No. 110, thought he needed a 6-foot par putt on the last hole to advance. He missed it and was visibly angry. More than an hour later, Aaron Baddeley appeared to be a lock to advance to Boston despite being at No. 119. Baddeley, however, bogeyed his last three holes, missing a 5-foot par putt on the 18th. That knocked him out and put Villegas back in at No. 100.
Scott missed a 15-foot birdie on the 18th hole that he thought might have been enough for a playoff at best.
"I thought I needed at least one more to even think about hanging around," said Scott, who stayed long enough to collect his first FedEx Cup playoff win.
[url=www-cbssports-com/golf/story/23319274/masters-champ-scott-opens-fedex-cup-playoffs-with-a-win]Masters champ Scott opens FedEx Cup playoffs with a win - Golf, PGA Tour - CBSSports-com PGA, News, Leaderboard Scores, Schedul
His caddie had already packed his golf clubs into a travel case. He viewed his visit to the CBS Sports tower as nothing more than a courtesy. His only hope was that the other players still on the course -- Tiger Woods and Justin Rose among them -- might find it as difficult to close out a victory as Scott has over the years.
"I'm pretty shocked," Scott said after his 5-under 66 gave him a one-shot win at Liberty National. "There were so many guys out there with a chance and I really didn't think I had much of a chance. If you hang around the lead long enough, you're going to win some, you're going to lose some. And this one went my way." Scott was watching from the locker room when Rose, who had a 25-foot putt for the outright lead, ran it 5 feet by the hole and three-putted for bogey. Clubs unpacked, Scott was on his way to the range when the groans from around the 18th green told him Woods narrowly missed his 25-foot birdie putt from off the back of the green to tie for the lead. Once on the range, a large video board showed Gary Woodland miss his third straight birdie putt from inside 10 feet.
"I guess it's different playing an hour-and-a-half in front of the leaders, the guys who have been under pressure all day than when you're out there," Scott said. "I know how they feel. When the pressure is on you to close out, it's much harder, and the holes become much harder and shots are far more crucial.
"I feel like I've been given a bit of a gift," he said. "But I'll take it."
Scott finished at 11-under 273 and moved to a career-best No. 2 in the world.
Woods suffered a back spasm on the par-5 13th hole and hooked a fairway metal so far left that it landed in a swamp on the other side of the 15th fairway. Woods dropped to all fours in pain before slowly getting up. He also dropped a shot on the 15th, and then gamely fought back with birdies on the 16th and 17th holes to get within one. His birdie putt from off the 18th green was one short turn of falling.
"Thought I made it," Woods said after his 69.
Woods had all four rounds in the 60s for the first time in a year on the PGA Tour, though it wasn't enough. He battled stiffness in his lower back all week, which he attributed to a soft bed in his hotel room -- the second straight year he has had back issues from a mattress at this event.
In a brief interview with CBS Sports, he said it was "hypothetical" when asked if he would compete in the Deutsche Bank Championship, the next playoff event that starts Friday on the TPC Boston. The tournament gives its charity money to Woods' foundation. Woods already missed the AT&T National this year, which also benefits his foundation. "I just got off and I'm not feeling my best right now," he said.
Rose wasn't feeling that great, either. He was in position to win the tournament with a birdie putt, and the U.S. Open champion did not want to leave it short. Instead, he knocked it by farther than he imagined, the ball stayed on the high side of the cup the whole way.
"I got too aggressive," said Rose, who closed with a 68. "I thought it was a putt to win the tournament. It's tough to take."
Kevin Chappell had a two-shot lead after a birdie on the 10th hole, but then played the next seven holes in 7-over par and closed with a 76. Woodland had a 73. Matt Kuchar, who shared the 54-hole lead with Woodland, fell back with a triple bogey on No. 9. His only birdie was on the 18th hole, and it gave him a 78.
"I found a way to hang in there and grind it out and gave myself a chance on the back nine on Sunday, which is everything you can ask for," Woodland said.
It was the second time Woods has missed a playoff by one shot at Liberty National.
Graham DeLaet of Canada, whose 65 matched Phil Mickelson for the low score of the final round, also tied for second. DeLaet will move up to No. 9 in the Presidents Cup standings, and with one week before qualifying ends, is in good shape to make the International team.
Scott won for the second time this year, and at least put himself into the conversation for PGA Tour player of the year if he were to go on to win the FedEx Cup. He is No. 2 in the standings behind Woods, though the $10 million prize does not come into view until the Tour Championship.
The first playoff event was packed with plenty of energy on a spectacular day across from the Statue of Liberty and the Manhattan skyline. Five players had at least a share of the lead at some point in the final round. Woods put up a great fight despite his back injury. Scott played the final 24 holes without a bogey.
Sunday also had some of the emotions found at Q-school for players whose season came to an abrupt end. And it was just as wild at the bottom.
Only the top 100 players in the FedEx Cup advance to the second playoff event next week outside Boston. Geoff Ogilvy could have joined them except for missing a 2-foot par putt on the final hole that ultimately knocked him out of the top 100.
Camilo Villegas, at No. 110, thought he needed a 6-foot par putt on the last hole to advance. He missed it and was visibly angry. More than an hour later, Aaron Baddeley appeared to be a lock to advance to Boston despite being at No. 119. Baddeley, however, bogeyed his last three holes, missing a 5-foot par putt on the 18th. That knocked him out and put Villegas back in at No. 100.
Scott missed a 15-foot birdie on the 18th hole that he thought might have been enough for a playoff at best.
"I thought I needed at least one more to even think about hanging around," said Scott, who stayed long enough to collect his first FedEx Cup playoff win.
[url=www-cbssports-com/golf/story/23319274/masters-champ-scott-opens-fedex-cup-playoffs-with-a-win]Masters champ Scott opens FedEx Cup playoffs with a win - Golf, PGA Tour - CBSSports-com PGA, News, Leaderboard Scores, Schedul
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Lydia Ko has attained the highest world ranking by any New Zealand golfer.
The 16-year-old from Gulf Harbour has jumped 12 spots to No 7 on the official world rankings after successfully defending her Canadian Open title this week.
The women's rankings were introduced in 2006; the men's have been operating since 1986.
Before Ko's climb, US Open winner Michael Campbell held top spot for New Zealand players. When he won the open in 2005, and the world matchplay championship that year, he reached No 12.
Ko is now ahead of some of her idols, including four former world No 1 ranked players - Yani Tseng (No 15), Ai Miyazato (No 14), Cristie Kerr (No 13) and Jiyai Shin (No 12).
Ko has played only 22 events to reach that level, 20 less than world No 6 Karrie Webb and 40 less than No 1 Inbee Park.
Her win at 16 years, four months and one day old made her both the youngest and second youngest winner in LPGA Tour history. She won the event last year at 15 years, four months and two days old.
Ko is yet to miss a cut in 24 professional events, she has finished as the low amateur in majors on five occasions and has recorded six top five finishes this year.
Ko's next tournament is the Evian Championship in Evians-les-Bains, France, starting September 12 - a major-rated tournament for the first time - where she will look to make further history and become the youngest major champion in golf.
Golf: Ko climbs to seventh in world - Sport - NZ Herald News
The 16-year-old from Gulf Harbour has jumped 12 spots to No 7 on the official world rankings after successfully defending her Canadian Open title this week.
The women's rankings were introduced in 2006; the men's have been operating since 1986.
Before Ko's climb, US Open winner Michael Campbell held top spot for New Zealand players. When he won the open in 2005, and the world matchplay championship that year, he reached No 12.
Ko is now ahead of some of her idols, including four former world No 1 ranked players - Yani Tseng (No 15), Ai Miyazato (No 14), Cristie Kerr (No 13) and Jiyai Shin (No 12).
Ko has played only 22 events to reach that level, 20 less than world No 6 Karrie Webb and 40 less than No 1 Inbee Park.
Her win at 16 years, four months and one day old made her both the youngest and second youngest winner in LPGA Tour history. She won the event last year at 15 years, four months and two days old.
Ko is yet to miss a cut in 24 professional events, she has finished as the low amateur in majors on five occasions and has recorded six top five finishes this year.
Ko's next tournament is the Evian Championship in Evians-les-Bains, France, starting September 12 - a major-rated tournament for the first time - where she will look to make further history and become the youngest major champion in golf.
Golf: Ko climbs to seventh in world - Sport - NZ Herald News
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Model and actress Kate Upton got a golf lesson on Tuesday from none other than 83-year-old Arnold Palmer.
You would think she could swing somebody like Rickie Fowler or Russell Henley but then again maybe it was Palmer that swung her (so to speak).
Upton and Palmer had dinner earlier this year as she went to his tournament at Bay Hill but this is next level stuff even from an icon like Palmer.
Here's a photo from their session which also looks like it was in some way affiliated with GolfDigest (possible cover girl?):
You would think she could swing somebody like Rickie Fowler or Russell Henley but then again maybe it was Palmer that swung her (so to speak).
Upton and Palmer had dinner earlier this year as she went to his tournament at Bay Hill but this is next level stuff even from an icon like Palmer.
Here's a photo from their session which also looks like it was in some way affiliated with GolfDigest (possible cover girl?):
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Tributes have been paid to former Ryder Cup player and renowned course designer Dave Thomas.
Thomas, who died on Tuesday aged 79, played in four Ryder Cups and represented Wales 11 times in the World Cup of Golf.
He twice finished second in the Open Championship and was elected to the Welsh Sports Hall of Fame in 2002.
"He was a larger-than-life character, a truly great guy," said George O'Grady, the European Tour chief executive.
O'Grady, who presented Thomas with honorary life membership of the European Tour earlier this year, paid tribute to his career and his impact on golf. "Dave became a household name in the 1950s and 1960s when he helped to build the game in Britain and all over the world," said O'Grady.
"Our condolences are with his partner Carol and Dave's sons Michael and Paul.
"Wherever the Tour has travelled, from Britain to the Continent to the rest of the world, we have played on courses designed by Dave. Both as a player and an architect, he leaves a lasting legacy to the game he truly loved."
Sandy Jones, chief executive of the Professional Golfers' Association, said: "I am very sad to learn of the passing of Dave Thomas.
"He was the proud captain of the PGA in our centenary year of 2001 and everyone would agree he was a legend of the professional game. He was always great company and a kind and gentle man.
"I feel a great privilege to have shared many enjoyable times in his company when he would enthrall me with great stories from his life in golf as we enjoyed a glass of red. He will be very sadly missed by me and all who knew him."
Thomas turned professional in 1949 when he watched some of the game's great champions, including Fred Daly, Max Faulkner and the legendary Sam Snead, competing in the Ryder Cup at Ganton.
He made his debut 10 years later in the contest at Eldorado Country Club and went on to play in three more Ryder Cups, the last in 1967 in Houston where he partnered a young Tony Jacklin in all four fourballs and foursomes, earning two-and-a-half points, before halving his match with Gene Littler in the singles.
In 1958 he lost a 36-hole play-off to Australia's Peter Thomson in the Open at Royal Lytham and in the 1966 tournament at Muirfield he finished tied second with Doug Sanders, one stroke behind Jack Nicklaus.
After arthritis brought a premature end to his playing career, Thomas became a course designer.
He and Peter Alliss - now a BBC commentator - designed The Belfry's famous Brabazon Course which hosted the Ryder Cup in 1985, 1989, 1993 and 2002.
BBC Sport - Dave Thomas: Golf pays tribute to Welsh Ryder Cup great
Thomas, who died on Tuesday aged 79, played in four Ryder Cups and represented Wales 11 times in the World Cup of Golf.
He twice finished second in the Open Championship and was elected to the Welsh Sports Hall of Fame in 2002.
"He was a larger-than-life character, a truly great guy," said George O'Grady, the European Tour chief executive.
O'Grady, who presented Thomas with honorary life membership of the European Tour earlier this year, paid tribute to his career and his impact on golf. "Dave became a household name in the 1950s and 1960s when he helped to build the game in Britain and all over the world," said O'Grady.
"Our condolences are with his partner Carol and Dave's sons Michael and Paul.
"Wherever the Tour has travelled, from Britain to the Continent to the rest of the world, we have played on courses designed by Dave. Both as a player and an architect, he leaves a lasting legacy to the game he truly loved."
Sandy Jones, chief executive of the Professional Golfers' Association, said: "I am very sad to learn of the passing of Dave Thomas.
"He was the proud captain of the PGA in our centenary year of 2001 and everyone would agree he was a legend of the professional game. He was always great company and a kind and gentle man.
"I feel a great privilege to have shared many enjoyable times in his company when he would enthrall me with great stories from his life in golf as we enjoyed a glass of red. He will be very sadly missed by me and all who knew him."
Thomas turned professional in 1949 when he watched some of the game's great champions, including Fred Daly, Max Faulkner and the legendary Sam Snead, competing in the Ryder Cup at Ganton.
He made his debut 10 years later in the contest at Eldorado Country Club and went on to play in three more Ryder Cups, the last in 1967 in Houston where he partnered a young Tony Jacklin in all four fourballs and foursomes, earning two-and-a-half points, before halving his match with Gene Littler in the singles.
In 1958 he lost a 36-hole play-off to Australia's Peter Thomson in the Open at Royal Lytham and in the 1966 tournament at Muirfield he finished tied second with Doug Sanders, one stroke behind Jack Nicklaus.
After arthritis brought a premature end to his playing career, Thomas became a course designer.
He and Peter Alliss - now a BBC commentator - designed The Belfry's famous Brabazon Course which hosted the Ryder Cup in 1985, 1989, 1993 and 2002.
BBC Sport - Dave Thomas: Golf pays tribute to Welsh Ryder Cup great
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Tiger Woods isn’t worried. That’s his story and he’s sticking to it. When asked Thursday whether he is concerned about the long-term ramifications of a back injury that left him wincing throughout last week’s Barclays event, he offers up a cold stare and a one-word response.
“No,” he says. He then pauses for a few seconds before rhetorically asking, “Do you want me to elaborate?”
The answer sounds great – and his wince-free pro-am round helped to assuage previous fears that the damage was more than temporary. Tiger’s poker face never quite allows for true feelings, though, and so even a confident reply should leave us wondering if he’s holding pocket aces or a 7-2 off-suit.
It’s only natural to worry about an injury, and even more natural to worry about a back injury. There is something terribly disarming about this affliction. It can leave a person vulnerable, gunshy, susceptible to flinching at the slightest awkward movement.
Anything can trigger it. Step into a car the wrong way. Reach for a cereal box on the top shelf. Hell, even a sneeze. There’s no right or wrong way to tweak your back, no absolute blueprint for when or where it’ll happen.
Tiger says he tweaked his back by sleeping on a soft hotel mattress. He said the same thing last year at the same tournament, only it was staged at a different course and he slept in a different hotel on a different mattress.
This is a man who’s never been a frequent recipient of sympathy. It's tough to feel bad for a 14-time major winner, even if he hasn't won one in a while; it's impossible to take pity on a guy whose career earnings look like a phone number, even if fame has forced him to live in a bubble.
That all changed on Sunday afternoon, though, at least for a few minutes, when Tiger took a mighty whack at his golf ball on the 13th hole and immediately fell to his knees, doubled over with back pain.
Anyone who has suffered from such torment witnessed a little bit of themselves in the man struggling to get to his feet.
Which is, of course, completely unnatural.
Tiger isn’t supposed to be like us. He isn’t supposed to be a mere mortal on the golf course.
That’s what a back injury can do, though. Knees and elbow heal – whether with surgery or just over time – but a back injury never completely goes away. Tiger sounds optimistic right now – publicly, at least – but if he ever wants to hear the doom-and-gloom scenario, he can just ask his caddie, who spent years around a guy who often suffered from back pain.
Joe LaCava toted Fred Couples’ clubs for years and owns firsthand knowledge of the havoc that a bad back can wreak upon a man’s golf game.
Or Tiger can read Couples’ comments about it for himself.
From 1998: "I wake up in the morning, and I walk like a 60-year-old man. My back bothers me whether I shoot 64 or 104.”
Or 2004: “This back thing, you think it's old for you guys, it's old for me. … Throbbing like a toothache, it's so uncomfortable.”
Or last month: “Sidehill lies and downhill lies are very hard to get to with my back. If I drive it in the rough and don't have a great lie, I'm not going to do too much out of it. I'll probably play it safe.”
Moral of the story? Once Freddie started fighting this problem, it became an ongoing issue. Sure, he’s played some good golf during the last 15 years, but he’s also done his share of suffering. He never quite knows how it’s going to feel when he wakes up in the morning.
And now, one year after Tiger endured back problems at The Barclays and three weeks after he endured back problems at the PGA Championship and days after he endured back problems at The Barclays again, you have to wonder whether he privately thinks a bad back could ultimately serve as his kryptonite.
“It could be fixed through the treatments,” he says after finally elaborating. “If that's the case, that's fantastic, and I've just got to adhere to it and do it. And obviously it's going to be a long stretch through here and through the Presidents Cup, I'm playing a lot of golf. And that's why it's great having the physios that I have and have been working on my body for a number about of years.”
Four days after walking “like a 60-year-old man,” to use Couples’ terminology, Tiger was saying all the right things. He wasn’t in any obvious pain Thursday, but as anyone who’s dealt with back problems understands, that can change immediately and without notice.
Despite already receiving multiple treatments per day, Tiger maintains he isn’t worried about it. Just looking at the history of how a back injury can impair a golfer, though, maybe he should be.
Tiger Woods Back Pain Could Hamper Rest Of Career | Golf Channel
“No,” he says. He then pauses for a few seconds before rhetorically asking, “Do you want me to elaborate?”
The answer sounds great – and his wince-free pro-am round helped to assuage previous fears that the damage was more than temporary. Tiger’s poker face never quite allows for true feelings, though, and so even a confident reply should leave us wondering if he’s holding pocket aces or a 7-2 off-suit.
It’s only natural to worry about an injury, and even more natural to worry about a back injury. There is something terribly disarming about this affliction. It can leave a person vulnerable, gunshy, susceptible to flinching at the slightest awkward movement.
Anything can trigger it. Step into a car the wrong way. Reach for a cereal box on the top shelf. Hell, even a sneeze. There’s no right or wrong way to tweak your back, no absolute blueprint for when or where it’ll happen.
Tiger says he tweaked his back by sleeping on a soft hotel mattress. He said the same thing last year at the same tournament, only it was staged at a different course and he slept in a different hotel on a different mattress.
This is a man who’s never been a frequent recipient of sympathy. It's tough to feel bad for a 14-time major winner, even if he hasn't won one in a while; it's impossible to take pity on a guy whose career earnings look like a phone number, even if fame has forced him to live in a bubble.
That all changed on Sunday afternoon, though, at least for a few minutes, when Tiger took a mighty whack at his golf ball on the 13th hole and immediately fell to his knees, doubled over with back pain.
Anyone who has suffered from such torment witnessed a little bit of themselves in the man struggling to get to his feet.
Which is, of course, completely unnatural.
Tiger isn’t supposed to be like us. He isn’t supposed to be a mere mortal on the golf course.
That’s what a back injury can do, though. Knees and elbow heal – whether with surgery or just over time – but a back injury never completely goes away. Tiger sounds optimistic right now – publicly, at least – but if he ever wants to hear the doom-and-gloom scenario, he can just ask his caddie, who spent years around a guy who often suffered from back pain.
Joe LaCava toted Fred Couples’ clubs for years and owns firsthand knowledge of the havoc that a bad back can wreak upon a man’s golf game.
Or Tiger can read Couples’ comments about it for himself.
From 1998: "I wake up in the morning, and I walk like a 60-year-old man. My back bothers me whether I shoot 64 or 104.”
Or 2004: “This back thing, you think it's old for you guys, it's old for me. … Throbbing like a toothache, it's so uncomfortable.”
Or last month: “Sidehill lies and downhill lies are very hard to get to with my back. If I drive it in the rough and don't have a great lie, I'm not going to do too much out of it. I'll probably play it safe.”
Moral of the story? Once Freddie started fighting this problem, it became an ongoing issue. Sure, he’s played some good golf during the last 15 years, but he’s also done his share of suffering. He never quite knows how it’s going to feel when he wakes up in the morning.
And now, one year after Tiger endured back problems at The Barclays and three weeks after he endured back problems at the PGA Championship and days after he endured back problems at The Barclays again, you have to wonder whether he privately thinks a bad back could ultimately serve as his kryptonite.
“It could be fixed through the treatments,” he says after finally elaborating. “If that's the case, that's fantastic, and I've just got to adhere to it and do it. And obviously it's going to be a long stretch through here and through the Presidents Cup, I'm playing a lot of golf. And that's why it's great having the physios that I have and have been working on my body for a number about of years.”
Four days after walking “like a 60-year-old man,” to use Couples’ terminology, Tiger was saying all the right things. He wasn’t in any obvious pain Thursday, but as anyone who’s dealt with back problems understands, that can change immediately and without notice.
Despite already receiving multiple treatments per day, Tiger maintains he isn’t worried about it. Just looking at the history of how a back injury can impair a golfer, though, maybe he should be.
Tiger Woods Back Pain Could Hamper Rest Of Career | Golf Channel
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Nike Inc. (NKE) says it can make a golf shirt that could replicate what a coach does.
The world’s largest maker of sporting goods obtained about a dozen patents on Aug. 27, including one invention with the potential to irk golf pros. “A coach or trainer can greatly improve an athlete’s form or body positioning, which can result in improved athletic performances,” Nike said in a patent filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. “For most people, however, a coach or trainer is not always available” and there isn’t an easy way to check positioning on your own, Nike said.
Enter what the sponsor of Tiger Woods describes as “articles of apparel providing enhanced body position feedback.” The clothing will have tighter material in areas key to a repetitive movement, like a golf swing. The snugger fit increases muscle stimulation, giving a better feel that will improve form, help a coach normally would provide by watching the golfer perform, the document said.
Nike has prospered even in hard times with a sustained focus on innovation, from air-pocket sneaker soles in the 1980s to last year’s Flyknit shoe, whose upper is woven like a sock. While these aren’t always the company’s best-sellers, they give its brand credibility -- as does paying the world’s most famous athletes to wear them on television.
That helps Nike charge a premium for its gear and allowed it to boost sales 8.5 percent to $25.3 billion in the fiscal year ended May 31. Nike shares have advanced 22 percent this year, compared with 14 percent for the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index.
Elastic Material
Obtaining a patent doesn’t mean for certain that the invention will be used in a product. Companies are granted millions of patents a year and many never become a reality.
In the golf patent, Nike describes thin elastic material embedded into the part of the garment that covers the lower back to heighten sensation. That part of the body is essential to a swinging motion and is impossible to see and difficult to feel while performing, which is why a coach is needed to give feedback, the document said.
Besides boosting performance, the shirt also could lower injury risk by keeping athletes in proper form as they swing a golf club or a baseball bat over and over again, Nike said.
Mary Remuzzi, a company spokeswoman, declined to comment on the patent and when such products might go on sale.
Under U.S. Golf Association rules, compression and posture garments are allowed during competition while clothes designed to store and release energy aren’t, said Joe Goode, a spokesman for the Far Hills, New Jersey-based group that governs golf rules in the U.S. and Mexico. He declined to comment on whether a product based on the Nike patent would be permitted.
Patent Push
Nike has been much more active in securing U.S. patents than competitors. It’s obtained more than 650 since the beginning of 2012, according to patent office data. Adidas, the second-largest sporting-goods maker with revenue of 14.7 billion euros ($19.4 billion) in the past four quarters, has 30 U.S. patents in the same period. Under Armour Inc. (UA), which is a much smaller company, had 24. By comparison, tech giant Apple Inc. (AAPL) was awarded almost 500 in the past three months.
Many of Nike’s latest patents integrate digital technology into sports equipment so users can measure and improve results. Last year the company introduced the FuelBand bracelet. It tracks daily activity while sensor-equipped shoes record data such as how high a basketball player jumps during a dunk.
One of the patents obtained this week falls into that category. It’s a USB device embedded into a bracelet that uses a shoe sensor to determine how far the wearer has run. The device plugs into a computer to transfer and analyze data.
Golf is a major focus as the company tries to maintain last year’s 9 percent sales growth at its Nike Golf brand. It has filed about 70 golf-related patents this year.
Nike Patents Golf Shirt Design That Could Double as Coach - Bloomberg
The world’s largest maker of sporting goods obtained about a dozen patents on Aug. 27, including one invention with the potential to irk golf pros. “A coach or trainer can greatly improve an athlete’s form or body positioning, which can result in improved athletic performances,” Nike said in a patent filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. “For most people, however, a coach or trainer is not always available” and there isn’t an easy way to check positioning on your own, Nike said.
Enter what the sponsor of Tiger Woods describes as “articles of apparel providing enhanced body position feedback.” The clothing will have tighter material in areas key to a repetitive movement, like a golf swing. The snugger fit increases muscle stimulation, giving a better feel that will improve form, help a coach normally would provide by watching the golfer perform, the document said.
Nike has prospered even in hard times with a sustained focus on innovation, from air-pocket sneaker soles in the 1980s to last year’s Flyknit shoe, whose upper is woven like a sock. While these aren’t always the company’s best-sellers, they give its brand credibility -- as does paying the world’s most famous athletes to wear them on television.
That helps Nike charge a premium for its gear and allowed it to boost sales 8.5 percent to $25.3 billion in the fiscal year ended May 31. Nike shares have advanced 22 percent this year, compared with 14 percent for the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index.
Elastic Material
Obtaining a patent doesn’t mean for certain that the invention will be used in a product. Companies are granted millions of patents a year and many never become a reality.
In the golf patent, Nike describes thin elastic material embedded into the part of the garment that covers the lower back to heighten sensation. That part of the body is essential to a swinging motion and is impossible to see and difficult to feel while performing, which is why a coach is needed to give feedback, the document said.
Besides boosting performance, the shirt also could lower injury risk by keeping athletes in proper form as they swing a golf club or a baseball bat over and over again, Nike said.
Mary Remuzzi, a company spokeswoman, declined to comment on the patent and when such products might go on sale.
Under U.S. Golf Association rules, compression and posture garments are allowed during competition while clothes designed to store and release energy aren’t, said Joe Goode, a spokesman for the Far Hills, New Jersey-based group that governs golf rules in the U.S. and Mexico. He declined to comment on whether a product based on the Nike patent would be permitted.
Patent Push
Nike has been much more active in securing U.S. patents than competitors. It’s obtained more than 650 since the beginning of 2012, according to patent office data. Adidas, the second-largest sporting-goods maker with revenue of 14.7 billion euros ($19.4 billion) in the past four quarters, has 30 U.S. patents in the same period. Under Armour Inc. (UA), which is a much smaller company, had 24. By comparison, tech giant Apple Inc. (AAPL) was awarded almost 500 in the past three months.
Many of Nike’s latest patents integrate digital technology into sports equipment so users can measure and improve results. Last year the company introduced the FuelBand bracelet. It tracks daily activity while sensor-equipped shoes record data such as how high a basketball player jumps during a dunk.
One of the patents obtained this week falls into that category. It’s a USB device embedded into a bracelet that uses a shoe sensor to determine how far the wearer has run. The device plugs into a computer to transfer and analyze data.
Golf is a major focus as the company tries to maintain last year’s 9 percent sales growth at its Nike Golf brand. It has filed about 70 golf-related patents this year.
Nike Patents Golf Shirt Design That Could Double as Coach - Bloomberg
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There was only a touch of irony in the fact that had Sergio Garcia played better at the PGA Championship or WGC-Bridgestone Invitational he probably wouldn’t be at TPC Boston this week, where he pulled into the lead with a second-round 64 on Saturday.
The Deutsche Bank Championship is the Spaniard’s fifth consecutive week on Tour, a run that was necessitated by Garcia’s position on the FedEx Cup points list to start the post-season (59th) and his need to play the BMW Championship to secure his minimum number of Tour starts (15) to maintain his membership.
“It was touch and go I was going to make it to the BMW without playing here,” said Garcia of the third playoff event where the top 70 in points advance. “It was an extra effort.”
Garcia, who is currently projected at fourth on the points list, took extra time to relax before the start of this week’s event, spending the day resting in New York City and walking around Central Park with his girlfriend. The rest, and added effort, added up to a 13-under total and a one-stroke lead over Roberto Castro through Round 2 play.
Like he did on Thursday, Garcia scorched the front nine at TPC Boston, carding a 31 to pull into the lead. He stumbled at the 14th hole with a double bogey-6, but recovered with a 7-iron from 212 yards at the par-5 18th hole that set up an 18-foot eagle putt.
“I hit it a little longer than I planned to,” Garcia said. “It’s too narrow up there to run it all the way back, but it turned out well.”
Sergio Garcia Leads Deutsche Bank Championship 65-64 | Golf Channel
The Deutsche Bank Championship is the Spaniard’s fifth consecutive week on Tour, a run that was necessitated by Garcia’s position on the FedEx Cup points list to start the post-season (59th) and his need to play the BMW Championship to secure his minimum number of Tour starts (15) to maintain his membership.
“It was touch and go I was going to make it to the BMW without playing here,” said Garcia of the third playoff event where the top 70 in points advance. “It was an extra effort.”
Garcia, who is currently projected at fourth on the points list, took extra time to relax before the start of this week’s event, spending the day resting in New York City and walking around Central Park with his girlfriend. The rest, and added effort, added up to a 13-under total and a one-stroke lead over Roberto Castro through Round 2 play.
Like he did on Thursday, Garcia scorched the front nine at TPC Boston, carding a 31 to pull into the lead. He stumbled at the 14th hole with a double bogey-6, but recovered with a 7-iron from 212 yards at the par-5 18th hole that set up an 18-foot eagle putt.
“I hit it a little longer than I planned to,” Garcia said. “It’s too narrow up there to run it all the way back, but it turned out well.”
Sergio Garcia Leads Deutsche Bank Championship 65-64 | Golf Channel
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Golfers must constantly contend with people who believe golf is boring. Some even criticise them for striking deals between shots. And then there are those who call it a game for the retired.
But as the last decade has shown, it’s the sport that’s grown the fastest in India after the country’s number one obsession, cricket. It’s been lapped up by executives and promoted by their companies. By their robust defence of this game, they make for its ambassadors.
First, golf lets you spend a lot of time with the ones you choose to play. From employees to clients, golf gives you plenty of time to talk shop, share business ideas, discuss collaborations and build future relationships.
Over the weekend, Deutsche Bank hosted its main championship on the PGA Tour. Tiger Woods was paired with New York mayor Michael Bloomberg, Deutsche Bank co-CEO Anshu Jain with John Lundgren of Stanley Black and Decker.
Over the years, the popularity of a pro-am (a match between professional and amateur golfers) has brought some of the best together. “Golf is an enabler of business relationships and has yet retained the principles of fair play,” says Richard Fiddis, head of strategic markets at Experian.
Shashi Kiran Shetty, self-made entrepreneur and executive chairman of Allcargo Logistics, says the game has never intimidated him. “Golf teaches us that even though you probably don’t have a shot at being the best, you do have a shot at being the best you can be.”
Second, golf is a great leveller. You could be an intern in the company and yet play a great game of golf with your boss. The game depends on the handicap system and so people of widely differing abilities can compete against each other.
Three, unlike football or basketball which make for great team sports and are energetic, golf gives you more time to spend with people to get to know them better. This makes it a fine test of character.
Four, golf is a great source of focus and patience. And these are most handy in a boardroom. There is no exaggeration when people say golf grows you into a better executive. You learn to keep your head down, like just you need to when you tee up your shot.
“You learn to play in the present,” says Ajay Srinivasan of Birla Financial Services. “Similarly, in business, the opportunity may be around today but gone tomorrow.”
While golf can make for a great executive assistant, it can also inspire timely decisions. It can become a good reason to retire at the right time, says K P Singh, chairman of DLF. For, in golf, once you break 100, you must watch your game; in life, once you break 75, you should let your business be handled by younger people.
How golf enables business relations - Money - DNA
But as the last decade has shown, it’s the sport that’s grown the fastest in India after the country’s number one obsession, cricket. It’s been lapped up by executives and promoted by their companies. By their robust defence of this game, they make for its ambassadors.
First, golf lets you spend a lot of time with the ones you choose to play. From employees to clients, golf gives you plenty of time to talk shop, share business ideas, discuss collaborations and build future relationships.
Over the weekend, Deutsche Bank hosted its main championship on the PGA Tour. Tiger Woods was paired with New York mayor Michael Bloomberg, Deutsche Bank co-CEO Anshu Jain with John Lundgren of Stanley Black and Decker.
Over the years, the popularity of a pro-am (a match between professional and amateur golfers) has brought some of the best together. “Golf is an enabler of business relationships and has yet retained the principles of fair play,” says Richard Fiddis, head of strategic markets at Experian.
Shashi Kiran Shetty, self-made entrepreneur and executive chairman of Allcargo Logistics, says the game has never intimidated him. “Golf teaches us that even though you probably don’t have a shot at being the best, you do have a shot at being the best you can be.”
Second, golf is a great leveller. You could be an intern in the company and yet play a great game of golf with your boss. The game depends on the handicap system and so people of widely differing abilities can compete against each other.
Three, unlike football or basketball which make for great team sports and are energetic, golf gives you more time to spend with people to get to know them better. This makes it a fine test of character.
Four, golf is a great source of focus and patience. And these are most handy in a boardroom. There is no exaggeration when people say golf grows you into a better executive. You learn to keep your head down, like just you need to when you tee up your shot.
“You learn to play in the present,” says Ajay Srinivasan of Birla Financial Services. “Similarly, in business, the opportunity may be around today but gone tomorrow.”
While golf can make for a great executive assistant, it can also inspire timely decisions. It can become a good reason to retire at the right time, says K P Singh, chairman of DLF. For, in golf, once you break 100, you must watch your game; in life, once you break 75, you should let your business be handled by younger people.
How golf enables business relations - Money - DNA
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2006/12/07
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Henrik Stenson is an inspiration to any athlete who has ever lost his way.
Twice, the man has reinvented himself.
Back in '01, Stenson won the Benson & Hedges Open for his first European Tour title. Two months later, he walked off the course in the middle of a tournament because he couldn't keep his golf ball in bounds. He was so desperate to find a fix to his wayward swing, he experimented hitting balls with his eyes closed. He found his way back all right, rising to No. 4 in the world in '09, only to lose his way again – his game beginning to reel that year in the wake of news that he lost a large chunk of his life savings as a victim in the Stanford Financial Ponzi scheme. He plummeted to No. 230 in the world before finding himself again.
Stenson might be the hottest player on the planet in the men's game today with his victory Monday at the Deutsche Bank Championship. His game, his story, should inspire the lost among us. – Randall Mell
The traditionalists are going to whine and complain and pound their fists on the keyboard, but I’ve got to make an admission: I’m kinda diggin’ this Web-com Finals format. Yeah, yeah. I know anyone who considers himself a true purist of the game is still lamenting the downfall of Q-School as we knew it. But here’s a little secret: This format is better. Way better. Not only does it feature an eclectic mix of PGA Tour stalwarts whose games have gone south, Web-com regulars who didn’t quite make it and up-and-comers trying to reach their dream, but the fact that it gives players four opportunities to claim a PGA Tour card makes for even more drama as it continues. And more importantly, it should weed out the guys who had a solid six-day stretch in the desert, but don’t necessarily have the chops for the big leagues. Just check out the first winner. Trevor Immelman is a Masters champion who was forced to compete here. Now he’ll be back where he belongs. You can keep whining about the demise of Q-School – it’s still there, but only to dole out Web-com cards; personally, I’d like to see maybe five PGA Tour cards still awarded there – but the alternative proves once again that not all change in the game has to be viewed through a cynical lens. – Jason Sobel
No traditional Q-School? No problem. The Web-com Tour Finals, just one week old, have already established themselves as a better gateway to the big Tour than the old qualifying tournament. Sure, the romanticism is gone. No longer can a dreamer with just an entry fee and a solid golf game go from the pro shop to the Big Show. But that’s probably a good thing. The five-day stress-fest known as Q-School didn’t always produce the best graduates. Don’t forget: A year ago, Jordan Spieth couldn’t even make it out of Q-School’s second stage. Now he’s on his way to the Tour Championship and, most likely, the Presidents Cup. Give me four weeks of competition on championship golf courses, with players who are either young up-and-comers (Patrick Cantlay), in need of a second chance (Bud Cauley), or perhaps even a wake-up call (Trevor Immelman). Are these Finals as compelling as Q-School? Maybe not. But it produces more deserving graduates. – Ryan Lavner
That U.S. Presidents Cup captain Fred Couples may have tougher choices to make on Wednesday than International counterpart Nick Price. Couples’ choices for his two captain’s picks will likely come down to Webb Simpson, Dustin Johnson, Jim Furyk, and rookie sensation Jordan Spieth. Price’s picks won’t be easy, but at least he won’t have to choose between a U.S. Open champion, an American team staple and a player many are calling the next great U.S. player. – Rex Hoggard
2013 Deutsche Bank Championship - What We Learned | Golf Channel
Twice, the man has reinvented himself.
Back in '01, Stenson won the Benson & Hedges Open for his first European Tour title. Two months later, he walked off the course in the middle of a tournament because he couldn't keep his golf ball in bounds. He was so desperate to find a fix to his wayward swing, he experimented hitting balls with his eyes closed. He found his way back all right, rising to No. 4 in the world in '09, only to lose his way again – his game beginning to reel that year in the wake of news that he lost a large chunk of his life savings as a victim in the Stanford Financial Ponzi scheme. He plummeted to No. 230 in the world before finding himself again.
Stenson might be the hottest player on the planet in the men's game today with his victory Monday at the Deutsche Bank Championship. His game, his story, should inspire the lost among us. – Randall Mell
The traditionalists are going to whine and complain and pound their fists on the keyboard, but I’ve got to make an admission: I’m kinda diggin’ this Web-com Finals format. Yeah, yeah. I know anyone who considers himself a true purist of the game is still lamenting the downfall of Q-School as we knew it. But here’s a little secret: This format is better. Way better. Not only does it feature an eclectic mix of PGA Tour stalwarts whose games have gone south, Web-com regulars who didn’t quite make it and up-and-comers trying to reach their dream, but the fact that it gives players four opportunities to claim a PGA Tour card makes for even more drama as it continues. And more importantly, it should weed out the guys who had a solid six-day stretch in the desert, but don’t necessarily have the chops for the big leagues. Just check out the first winner. Trevor Immelman is a Masters champion who was forced to compete here. Now he’ll be back where he belongs. You can keep whining about the demise of Q-School – it’s still there, but only to dole out Web-com cards; personally, I’d like to see maybe five PGA Tour cards still awarded there – but the alternative proves once again that not all change in the game has to be viewed through a cynical lens. – Jason Sobel
No traditional Q-School? No problem. The Web-com Tour Finals, just one week old, have already established themselves as a better gateway to the big Tour than the old qualifying tournament. Sure, the romanticism is gone. No longer can a dreamer with just an entry fee and a solid golf game go from the pro shop to the Big Show. But that’s probably a good thing. The five-day stress-fest known as Q-School didn’t always produce the best graduates. Don’t forget: A year ago, Jordan Spieth couldn’t even make it out of Q-School’s second stage. Now he’s on his way to the Tour Championship and, most likely, the Presidents Cup. Give me four weeks of competition on championship golf courses, with players who are either young up-and-comers (Patrick Cantlay), in need of a second chance (Bud Cauley), or perhaps even a wake-up call (Trevor Immelman). Are these Finals as compelling as Q-School? Maybe not. But it produces more deserving graduates. – Ryan Lavner
That U.S. Presidents Cup captain Fred Couples may have tougher choices to make on Wednesday than International counterpart Nick Price. Couples’ choices for his two captain’s picks will likely come down to Webb Simpson, Dustin Johnson, Jim Furyk, and rookie sensation Jordan Spieth. Price’s picks won’t be easy, but at least he won’t have to choose between a U.S. Open champion, an American team staple and a player many are calling the next great U.S. player. – Rex Hoggard
2013 Deutsche Bank Championship - What We Learned | Golf Channel
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The 31-year-old Australian, who was first diagnosed with leukemia at aged 17, learned the disease had returned in March 2012, shortly after the birth of his first child.
After extensive treatment, including chemotherapy and a transplant of donor blood from umbilical cords, Lyle was told in June his body was clear of the disease.
Lyle, who has said he hopes to return to the PGA Tour for 2014, will join defending champion Adam Scott and America's world No.6 Matt Kuchar at the Nov. 14-17 Australian Masters at Royal Melbourne Golf Club.
Cancer survivor Jarrod Lyle to return to pro golf