Home
PGA Lacking Its Big Hook
Viewer interest in FedEx Cup, minus Tiger Woods, in question
Phil Mickelson was to ring the opening bell on the New York Stock Exchange this morning. Consider it your wakeup call. The PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup Playoffs are about to start.
You might not have noticed between updates on Antonio Gates’ toe, that little thing called the Olympics and the Padres doing absolutely nothing, but the tour’s second effort at its postseason format begins Thursday, eight miles out of Manhattan at venerable Ridgewood Country Club in Paramus, N.J.
Last year, the inaugural FedEx Cup overcame many, many doubters – including this one – with some highly watchable golf, including Mickelson’s winning duel with Tiger Woods in Week 2, and Woods’ eventual record-setting blitzing of the pack at the Tour Championship. [more]
Perry Using Criticism As Motivation Heading Into PGA, Ryder Cup
Ryder Cup
Kenny Perry arrived at Oakland Hills Country Club, site of this week’s PGA Championship, as soon as possible, perhaps eager to get preparations under way for what will be, amazingly, his first major championship appearance of the year.
He didn’t recall The Monster being as long or as difficult as it is now. The last time he traversed these hallowed fairways, however, things did not work out so well. Perry was part of an embarrassing 18 ½-9 ½ United States loss to Europe in the 2004 Ryder Cup, matches in which he went 0-2. [more]
Perry Withdraws From Oakland Hills After a 79
Kenny Perry
American Kenny Perry, one of the hottest players in the game, withdrew from the U.S. PGA Championship on Thursday because of an eye problem.
The 47-year-old pulled out of the final major of the year after carding a nine-over-par 79 in the opening round at Oakland Hills Country Club.
“I have had Lasik (laser eye) surgery and have been wearing lenses which have a hard centre and flatten out at the end,” Perry said in a statement.
“I had some infection in there and my doctor said that I needed to let my eyes rest by keeping the contacts out.
“He gave me cortisone and steroids which were very painful and it was annoying to be trying to fight a tough golf course and have my eye aggravating me at the same time. [more]
Wie Skips A Major, And Some Wonder Why
Michelle Wie skipped a major to play on the PGA Tour this week
Annika Sorenstam, Helen Alfredsson and Paula Creamer wonder why.
After all, Wie has yet to win on the women’s tour and has never made the cut on the PGA Tour.
Wie, who is managed by her parents, was listed in qualifying for the Women’s British Open at Sunningdale. But she pulled out and instead has a sponsor’s exemption for the Legends Reno-Tahoe Open at Reno, Nev. It is her eighth PGA Tour event.
PGA Championship Field To Feature 2008’s Deepest World-Ranked Roster.[more]
Wie Shrugs Off Criticism As She Enters PGA Tourney
Michelle Wie enters the PGA Tourney
Michelle Wie has heard the criticism of her decision to play in the Legends Reno-Tahoe Open this week instead of attempting to qualify for the Women’s British Open.
Like most teenagers, the 18-year-old just wants to have a good time. She isn’t worried about what Annika Sorenstam and other top LPGA players think of her decision, either.
“There are going to be criticisms entering this tournament, but at the same time I’m just doing what I feel like I want to do and it’s going to be a lot of fun,” Wie said. [more]
PGA Championship Field To Feature 2008’s Deepest World-Ranked Roster
PGA Championship
The PGA Championship marks its third return to Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Township, Mich., Aug. 4-10, with 69 international players representing 19 countries, the most of any U.S. major.
The Championship field features 10 past PGA Champions: Bob Tway (1986), John Daly (1991), Paul Azinger (1993), Steve Elkington (1995), Mark Brooks (1996), Davis Love III (1997), Vijay Singh (1998, 2004), David Toms (2001), Rich Beem (2002) and Phil Mickelson (2005).[more]
Australian Open Golf Moves To Sydney
Australian Golf Open
The Australian Golf Open will be staged in Sydney through to 2015 in a deal announced by Golf Australia and the New South Wales state government on Monday.
It was also announced that the 2009 Australian Open will be held for the first time at the New South Wales Golf Club on Sydney’s southern coastline. [more]
Golf: Woe is Michelle Wie
Michelle Wie
Michelle Wie’s career missteps have been many yet she still commands crowds and interest from tournaments seeking a boost in attendance.
It was announced on Monday that Wie, 19, would play the Legends Reno-Tahoe Open, her first PGA Tour appearance of the year. The event is on the schedule against a World Golf Championship tournament, the Bridgestone Invitational, which will draw the world’s top-ranked players. [more]
KIM CHARGING FAST UP THE LADDER OF GOLF’S BEST YOUNGSTERS
Kim - The Best Young Golfer
Adam Scott? Sergio Garcia? They are all well ahead of Kim, at least according to the 23-year-old two-time winner. Although those longer-tenured players do rank in front of Kim on the Official World Golf Ranking, it doesn’t look as though the former Oklahoma Sooner will be in the back of that pack for very long. [more]
MEDIATE’S STELLAR PLAY BAGS INVITATION TO BRITISH OPEN
Rocco Mediate on British Open
Mediate, 45, qualified for the British Open with earnings from The Players Championship in May through the AT&T. He earned $81,000 Sunday for $947,030 during the period, second only to Kenny Perry’s $1.28 million. [more]
ANTHONY KIM IS EARNING HIS TIGER STRIPES
Woods Rating after Kim Wins AT&T
Tiger Woods got lucky over the weekend. No, he didn’t toss aside his crutches and start practicing again, but he had a good winner at the tournament he hosts, the AT&T National: Anthony Kim.
The 23-year-old Kim, who was born in Los Angeles but moved to La Quinta when he was 16, is a star in the making. Or it could be that he’s already achieved star status. [more]
IMPROVE YOUR GOLF GAME WITH 4 GOLF COURSES STRENGTHENING EXERCISES
Hot Combination of Golf and Exercise
Golf and can not exercise like, but they are definitely a hot combination. Most golfers may not be aware of this, but the probability of maintaining a physical exercise for the body can increase or improve their game. The ability to offer a good swing rests mainly on the type of condition has a golfer. [more]
THE BEST GOLF COURSES IN BELGIUM
Best Golf Course in Belgium
A variant of golf has been played in Belgium from 14th-century, the climate is temperate, the courses are close together, is a short distance from England and, of course, beer and chocolate are legendary! They all came together to make sure golf holiday in Belgium are perfect for anyone who wants a quick exit from England without having to travel for hours.
Favorite golf in Belgium are:
1. Royal Zoute Golf Club
2. Ostend Royal Club Golf
3. Royal Antwerp
4. Royal Golf Club in Belgium
5. Waregem Golf Club [more]
ANTHONY KIM WINS AT& T, LOOKS SET FOR MORE CHALLENGES
23-Year-Old May Become a Worthy Rival for Woods
“It’s huge for me,” Kim said. “I grew up watching one video, and it was called ‘Tiger’s Triple’ when he won three U.S. Juniors and three U.S. Amateurs. To win his golf tournament is amazing because I idolized him growing up. It’s so surreal for me to be in this position right now.”
He’s in this position a year after deciding to re-dedicate himself to a game that came so naturally to him growing up on municipal courses in Southern California. Though he easily kept his playing privileges after his 2007 rookie season, Kim said he knew he had to give up the party animal lifestyle he tried to perfect a year ago and focus on fulfilling his unlimited potential by getting to the gym and the practice range. [more]
GOLF THE MOST IMPORTANT RULE! — GOLF BALL CONTACT
Golf Ball Contact, Important Golf Rules
There is a common mistake made by beginners. What we often do is try to help the ball and ball in the air with his fairway woods and irons. This is a fundamental mistake, because even hit the ball only cause the loss of more hits and give the player poor distance in every shot.
When you are swinging your irons or even fairway woods should be aimed at the bottom front of the ball itself, or even a bit before the ball. This will allow the merits of his arch swing still on a downward path when contact with the golf ball. If you see a good player when striking the ball with a 9-iron for example, you notice that your divots always start ahead of the ball and never after the ball. What this means is the golfer is making contact with the ball at first, even recession, and then contact with the grass is carried out. [more]
PERNICE LEADS AT&T NATIONAL GOLF TOURNAMENT
AT&T National Tournament
American golfer Tom Pernice Jr. has a one stroke lead over compatriot Steve Stricker headed into the final round of the A&T National tournament in Bethesda, Maryland. As VOA’s David Byrd reports, Pernice struggled on the Congressional Country Club Course, but still took the lead late in his round.
Pernice started the day at 9-under-par and only a birdie (one stroke under par on a hole) on the 17th hole put him into the lead. The 48-year-old Pernice is 10-under-par, 200 for the tournament. He said after his third round that he cannot take winning for granted. [more]
SHARKS’s INTENSE WEDDING SECURITY
Golf Issues
The Daily Telegraph photographer Jeff Rayner was monstered by a group of six men, including one claiming to be chief of police of The Bahamas, who threatened to throw him into one of the local festering jails.“I’m sure you’ve heard what our jails are like here,” Rayner was told by the uniformed cop. “We will throw you in the fox hole.” [more]
INBEE PAERK THE YOUNGEST WINNER OF WOMEN’S US OPEN
Women’s US Open
On Sunday, Park wrapped hands around the biggest trophy in women’s golf, capturing the U.S. Women’s Open at Interlachen with nearly flawless golf over the final 10 holes as everyone else melted away.
“I didn’t know anything about golf back then, but I was watching her,” Park said. “It was very impressive for a little girl. I just thought that I could do it, too.”
Two weeks shy of her 20th birthday, Park replaced Pak as the youngest Women’s Open champion. She pulled away with crucial putts on three straight holes—two birdies and one par—early on the back nine and added a final birdie for a 2-under 71 and a four-shot victory over Helen Alfredsson. [more]
LARRAZABAL WINS FRENCH OPEN BY 4 STROKES
French Open
Spanish rookie Pablo Larrazabal won the French Open for his first European Tour victory Sunday, closing with a 4-under-par 67 to beat Colin Montgomerie by four strokes.
Larrazabal, who had to play two qualifying rounds, finished at 15-under 269.
“It was, for me, a six-day tournament,” he said.
Montgomerie shot a 68 for a 273, one stroke in front of Soren Hansen of Denmark. Australia’s Richard Green (67) was next at 276, one shot ahead of Lee Westwood of England and Markus Brier of Austria.
“I played great golf,” Larrazabal said. “Today and yesterday was probably the best golf of my life. Now I know I can play like those guys—Montgomerie and Westwood.” [more]
Perry wins Buick Open
Buick Open. Kenny Perry is coming home.
Perry shot a 6-under 66 on Sunday to win the Buick Open by a stroke at 19 under, likely locking up a spot on the Ryder Cup team that will face Europe at Valhalla about 40 miles from his birthplace.
“I’m ecstatic,” he said. “It really won’t sink in until I’m actually putting on the red, white and blue.”
Perry was amazed he won at Warwick Hills for a second time because Woody Austin closed with consecutive bogeys to blow the tournament and Bubba Watson just missed a 12-footer that would’ve forced a playoff.While Perry was on the driving range, he backed into earning $900,000. [more]
