Pitcher John Smoltz struggles in Nationwide debut
The 43-year-old Smoltz opened with an 84 after two long weather delays forced him to play 18 holes over two days. He was even worse in the second round at Kinderlou Forest Golf Club, with his 27-over 171 nine strokes worse that any of the other 147 golfers who completed both rounds.
Smoltz spent nearly his entire career with Atlanta, becoming the only pitcher in major league history to post 200 wins and 150 saves. He pitched for Boston and St. Louis in 2009 before moving into broadcasting.
He played in the South Georgia Classic on a sponsor exemption.
Alexis Thompson shares lead @ Avnet Classic, could be youngest winner in LPGA history
Alexis Thompson moved into position to become the youngest winner in LPGA Tour history, shooting a 5-under 67 in breezy conditions Saturday for a share of the third-round lead with Song-Hee Kim in the Avnet LPGA Classic.
Thompson will be 16 years, 2 months, 21 days on Sunday. Marlene Hagge was 18 years, 14 days when she won the 1952 Sarasota Open, which was an 18-hole event. Pleasanton native Paula Creamer is the youngest winner of a multi-round event, taking the 2005 Sybase Classic at 18 years, 9 months, 17 days.
"I'm going into (Sunday) just going all-in on every golf shot," Thompson said. "Play consistent like I have the last few days and hopefully it'll all go well."
Kim had a 70 to match Thompson at 7-under 209 on The Crossings course at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail's Magnolia Grove complex in Mobile, Ala.
Amy Yang (72) was a stroke back, and Maria Hjorth (67), Suzann Pettersen (71) and Karen Stupples (72) were 5 under.
Juli Inkster (70) and Christina Kim (72) were 3 under, and Creamer (75) was 2 over.
Thompson of Coral Springs, Fla., played in the U.S. Women's Open at 12 and turned professional last year. She said she didn't notice her top spot on the leader board until she was heading up to the 18th green.
"I hadn't been looking at the leader board, since I'm not trying to worry about that," she said.
New Golf Grips in Golf Game
I had been out of golf for related to 12 years. I may play the occasional round with mates or family. So I had the same clubs I had invest in 15 ages ago but I would play no way more than 4 or 5 times a year.
Final yr I received into a golf league as a sub of ping k15 irons and played related to a dozen times. These 12 months I arrived in yet again as a sub and performed slightly more. The guys were every telling me I should turn out to be way more hip and get the new big head golf driver.
The golf grip was shot so he recommended I decide to buy a latest one and he would probably put it on. I have already been researching the Web to determine when a golf grip could be altered. Just for this club there was no doubt that the golf grip needed changing. There are a lot of differences about when a grip should be transformed but the one I liked the finest was this.
That makes way more sense to me then those other arbitrary methods just like alter the golf grips each year. Or switch it when the grip starts to appear worn or switch it every time you put the clubs away for the season.
Waiting until you receive that feeling in your hands you’ll understand it is time. Although I should always confess, you can get acclimated to the really feel of your grip while using it and not realize it needs to be transformed.
The latest grip I received was one of the generally high-priced you can get. I needed it just for this driver and I wasn’t going to make a chance on a cheap one. I have had a 3 metal for an exceptionally extended time and determined I would probably switch the grip on that club while he did the driver.
Now I really feel for instance I have two latest clubs and I like hitting them with these latest grips. Not only are they fine feeling but Also I hit them nearly so long as touring professional golfers. I’ve hit many drives about 295 yards and I have hit my 3 metal 250 yards on many functions. Normally, I don’t attempt to hit them as fast as I can consider that most courses I play on don’t will want a big drive.
Tiger's Sport Story
The car accident that started it all took place in late 2009, and in the year that followed Woods was seldom out of the headlines, though they were rarely about the quality of his golf.
It was a year that saw his carefully constructed public image unravel in the most dramatic of fashion, with seemingly one salacious headline after the other, and the very public scandal was enough to gain the most number of votes from the various U.S. news organisations that make up the AP’s membership.
Woods’ saga received 1,316 points, with the New Orleans Saints’ historic first Superbowl title getting 1,215 and the NBA free-agency frenzy that resulted in dramatic player movements coming in third with 1,085.
176 ballots were submitted, and voters were asked to rank the top sports stories of the year, with the first-place story getting 10 points, the second-place story receiving nine points, and so on.
Cross Golf Narrow Gate
1, the entry bar
General domestic golf beginners are often recommended for entry to practice as a 7-iron shot. But golf teaching abroad in general is P (Pitch) wedge shot for the entry. P rod in addition to the shorter shaft, the advantages of the ball more easily, its style of play and most diverse end shots P rod and putting the taylormade burner 2.0 is the most frequently used, so long as the start bar entry P After training from other clubs will be more handy.
2, the importance of grip
In general, the movement can be divided into two forms, one is running, swimming straight movement, the other is baseball, tennis and golf round sport. Movement in the circle, the body turned to the practice particularly important, because, do not turn the wrong muscles can cause stroke. No matter how hard train hard, get the effect is limited. In addition, all round sports, golf is particular about the time difference of the movement, emphasizing how to use the upper body (arms, wrists, shoulders) and lower body (waist) to coordinate the running of senior action.
3, the basic posture
Correct ball position is the only way to win good results, however, some people hit the taylormade r9 irons with incorrect posture, sometimes lucky hit get good grades and complacent, thinking that this practice according to a certain right. As everyone knows, is not the correct ball position has been under the wrong kinds of factors can be maintained even if a lot of practice every day, performance is also up and down, a large gap between good and bad. What is more, there are injury concerns.
4, and find the action and attitude
Anyway, everyone’s body is different height, fat, thin, so light to the second and third books of this tutorial training to learn golf should be easy. Therefore, some people even think they play a conservative ball is healthy, and never care about the performance scores of negative thoughts, so that golf can not understand deep mysteries. And his golf is a competition, and do not give up the sport. The most important thing is to learn basic movements of the foundation, practice and more experience, storage, accumulated experience is the entry way.
5, in a nutshell
Develop the correct movement concepts and exercise habits, and find the golf swing, learn about curve ball, high and low trajectory Failures to learn when his golf teacher needs to have confidence, patience to overcome the psychological impact of it were the most important is to learn the beginning of the ball and get Golf Playing Benefit.
That is certainly official, based on Reuters that quoted a primary R&A official as stating on Monday that golf’s extremely heavy rule book has been re-analyzed right after rule infringements including Padraig Harrington, Camila Villegas and Ian Poulter on the 1st few weeks’ the latest season.
Harrington, actively playing some of the greatest golf game with his discount golf equipment of his life in Abu Dhabi as the previous of his 3 Major wins two years’ before was disqualified after a TV audience had noticed a minute movement of his golf ball after his thumb had hit it while getting rid of his marker.
Harrington didn’t believe it had transferred forward and didn’t penalize himself two golf shots when he handed in his card, however on being shown a replay of the event he were forced to agree that the golf ball had moved forward over it had moved back and didn’t dispute when senior Tour referee Andy McFee grudgingly were forced to disqualify for not penalizing himself right after he had completed in 2nd place in the 1st round.
Colombian Villegas seemed to be disqualified, in the case from the PGA Tour’s season-opening Tournament of Champions in Hawaii.
It was likewise for a rule violation discovered by a TV audience whilst Briton Poulter was penalised one golf shot after his marker handled his golf ball and his taylormade r9 driver after he fallen it at the Dubai World Championship in November.
“We have to evaluate whether, sometimes, these penalties will still be suitable,” the R&A’s rules of golf director Grant Moir told Reuters.
“We are already talking about this element of the golf rules and certainly our concentration is pretty dramatically on it right now in the light of these kinds of accidents.”
“It is extremely hard for me to declare at this stage if you will see a change to the golf rules or an presentation of the rules, however there’s certainly the means to do this, no matter with your titleist ap2 irons or other clubs.”
Moir stated one achievable solution to deal with problems of the kind that delivered Harrington to an earlier exit was for retrospective charges to be provided to golf players who had brought in their cards unconscious that they had committed infringements, rather than disqualifying them.
“You will find a lot of options with regards to considering these elements of the golf rules,” he said.
“We might take a look at making use of a preliminary penalty and then one more penalty for the card not being proper. This really is all forming section of the conversations we are already having.
“The rule is the scorecard is sacrosanct, the scores need to be correct,” added Moir.
Moir stated the R&A hadn’t lost sight of the reality that Harrington just has been selected as a global R&A.ambassador.
“It certainly has not been lost on us and we really feel compassion for the golf player,” he mentioned.
“I believe if something released of this it absolutely was the truth that Padraig proven himself as becoming the excellent R&A Working for Golf Ambassador in relation to the method he dealt with it; the best way he recognized obligation.”
“It had been a serious blow, however, he is actually an excellent upholder of the golf rules and the method he dealt with himself in this particular condition only reemphasizes to us that he’s a golfer we are happy to be connected with,” Moir added.
It is to say that Tiger Woods Announced New Start, but he still needs to obey the golf rules.
A Soldier Plays With Tiger In Pro-Am
Lt. Col. Michael Rowells, exactly who has a 9 handicap and is actually serving with the 401st Army Field Support Brigade, beat 16,000 some other beginner golf players who like use the taylormade r9 driver in a draw in front of the tournament’s conventional curtain raiser at the Emirates Golf Club.
Rowells stated that he was delighted to play with the previous World No. one golf player, calling it “a dream be realized,” – it particularly as that
Tiger Woods’ late father, Earl, was obviously a career soldier that performed two trips during the Vietnam War being a person in the US Army Special Forces.
Earl Woods, who had been to increase to the rank of lieutenant colonel just before his retirement, actually called Tiger after a South Vietnamese army coworker that fought against him. As Tiger Woods once take his golf clubs out and make his Golf Caddie Enjoyment with him, he can still play well now.
Sensible Choose For Golf Lessons
Of course, the professional golf instructors can help you improve your golf game, but it is not ne cessary for you to spend so much money on the private lessons, what you would do most is to practice and practice.
As we all known that the private golf lessons can always cost a lot of money, but often have little good effect. If you happened to attend some golf lesions, how much have you remembered now? Of course, you may just remember a pointer or two, unless you take part in a lot of golf lessons, otherwise, you will not see any improvement in your golf game. Golf can be an expensive game, when you take into account the price of a decent set of golf clubs, such as the taylormade r9 driver, balls, green fees, shoes, gloves, etc, you will see potentially thousands of dollars every few years if you would like to keep up on the latest technology.
A lot of golf players may not afford private golf lessons on top of these fees. Don’t misunderstanding; private golf lessons are great if you have enough money to afford multiple lessons sustained over a period of time. If you can’t then you have to look for some good and cheap alternatives to the expensive private lessons, for example, a book or an instructional DVD series.
I would like to say that there are a lot of golf tips and golf instructions online, if you like to improve your golf game, then you may practice these golf tips with your favorite golf clubs, such as ping g15 irons, in your backyard, at the driving range, I believe you can get beneficial from these online free golf tips.
NAPGC Qualifier - Sunday 8 May
The format is stableford and there are three handicap division - 10 and below; 11 to 16; and 17 to 28. This provides an ideal opportunity to gain a place in the regional final - the more entries we have in our local event means the opportunity for more qualifying places in the regional final. A big turnout would be appreciated.
Happy with par at Zurich Kodak Challenge Hole #17?
Darron Stiles may have used a 7-iron to ace the 17th hole in 2005 with Daniel Chopra needing a 5-iron to do the same in the final round of the 2007 New Orleans Zurich Classic but the vision of water and newly reshaped green may be problematic for the players.
Tournament Director Rommy Fonseca conveyed about TPC Louisiana's Hole #17, "This is a unique hole that has proved very challenging for the players. It has also provided some great play over the years."
RotoExperts.com assessed that the onslaught of Hurricane Katrina caused the redesign of the 17th...
"...giving Dye the opportunity to move some bunkers around, redesign the green and generally make it hell for everyone who dares to gaze upon it from the tee box. Last year, the hole was ferocious, ceding just 38 birdies against 85 bogeys. The 17th claimed another 26 double-bogeys or worse. With a scoring average of 3.23, par will be considered a victory."
WamGolf.com affirmed the 17th golf hole as a favorite, detailing the way an average golfer might play it (from about 70 yards forward):
"This was clearly a different hole from the TOUR Tees than our tees. From our tee box there was almost no forced carry over the water which runs down the left side of this hole. If you miss the green left, you're wet. A tee shot right and you're left with a chip shot to a green running away from you. It's a long green and a back left pin placement makes this hole more challenging. I was fortunate enough to hit the green in one and then three putt."
Luke Donald, looking for a way to win the Zurich Classic this weekend and take the number-one spot in the OWGR from Lee Westwood had a different version of the hole, saying a birdie at 17 during the opening round helped him to get back on track.
“I was playing great, 2 under, just not holing the putts when I had the chances," mentioned Donald. "It will make dinner feel a lot better with those birdies on 17 and 18. I played really solid today. I only missed a couple of greens. It was as good a display of iron play as I’ve done all year.”
Watch as Brad Faxon drops in a 27-foot putt for birdie on TPC Louisiana at the par-3 17th Kodak Challenge hole...opening round of the 2011 Zurich Classic of New Orleans:
Will the wind wreak havoc this week at the Kodak Challenge Hole #17 or will one of the PGA Tour players ace the hole creating a Kodak moment?
About the Kodak Challenge
The Kodak Challenge highlights many of golf's most exciting and picturesque holes in 2011 as players take on "the greatest scorecard in golf."
Created to celebrate the beautiful holes and memorable moments in golf, the Kodak Challenge is a first-of-its-kind competition on the PGA TOUR. Players must play at least 18 of 30 Kodak Challenge holes throughout the season to qualify. The golfer with the best Kodak Challenge score relative to par at the end of the season will win the Kodak Challenge trophy and $1 million dollars.
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Scott Robertson competes in Perth and Kinross Champion of Champions
Good luck Scott!
Allan Easton is also playing as a result of being selected recently by the Perth and Kinross Gents Team and we wish him well too.
GARY SMITH TROPHY DRAW
Maintain Balance in the Golf Swing
If you hurry your swing with your titleist irons you will loose your balance and the end result is inconsistent get in touch with and bad ball flight. Outstanding ball strikers hardly ever off balance at influence and their tempo is the “glue” in which bonds their positions and movements. Often their swings seem to be effortless and they, while Julius Boros described that, “swing easy and hit tough.” Excellent tempo allows you to properly string your body mobility and arrive at influence in a new place of leverage and power.
Ten-time PGA TOUR driving precision champion Calvin Peete claims the three keys to straight driving are “Balance, Balance and Balance.” If you want to certainly be a additional frequent ball striker, you need to understand how the body should be balanced in a number of essential positions.
The following pages show those several situations and how the body should be balanced in each.
Though your spine is tilted away from the target with handle, you should get your weight evenly balanced between your ideal and your left foot with your middle and extended irons. Also, you should sense your weight evenly balanced between your pumps and your toes, roughly on the balls of the ft.
As you pivot to the top of the to keep coming back swing, your weight techniques into the inside of the come back foot. You should come to feel roughly 75-percent of your weight on the come back base and 25-percent on the top base. The weight need to do not move to the outside of the returning ft ..
Conducted by the time you arrive at impact, about 70- to 75-percent of your weight ought to be shifted onto the top base. Your head have to be behind the ball and your body should transfer forward around 4 inches earlier their starting situation. This increases the spine lean conducted by a minimum of 2 bottle.
With the completion of the accept through, you should have the majority of your weight — related to 90-percent of this — on the outside of the the front ft ..
Permanent Magnet Golf Bracelet
Stainless Steel Girl Bracelets
Using a new combination of matte and polished steel, these bracelets have become appealing.
Water piping Golf Bracelet
For Hundreds of ages, folks have donned water piping bracelets and other water piping jewelry, at the . grams . water piping anklets, water piping rings and other water piping things to help alleviate joint pain brought on by tendonitis and arthritis.
This wives’ history brings persisted throughout the ages. Water piping Bracelets work for many golfers after they playing a round of golf game with their titleist irons, and thousands of them wear them today. Test it for yourself and understanding the healing power of Water piping.
Talk About Golf Coaches
One of the ideal golf coachs of the 20th one hundred year is no longer together with us all. Dork Williams trained the School of Houston golf crew by 1952 to 1987. In that span, this individual received 16 nation’s champion-ships, more than any other NCAA golf private coach.
My spouse and i performed for Coach Wil-liams from 1968 to 1972. My personal roommates involved Bill Rogers, Sara Mahaffey and Bruce Lietzke. We used to contact Trainer Williams “The Cougar,” because this individual ended up being this type of Uni-versity of Houston partisan. He or she would probably constantly point out of which at the time you remaining Houston you were “camping out,” and if you ever quit Texas you were “really camping out.”
With the time, many of all of us thought Coach Williams don’t know completely. This individual confident don’t know significantly golf technique. Just what he or she would carry out ended up being pump motor his fist and shout “Cougars!” often and inside open, much to our own distress. This individual might tell us every single day which we were winners.
A hard rule from Houston had been “no weather reviews,” which usually meant, Do not identify anything related to your spherical, other than your report!
Another thing Trainer Williams would ended up being produce us turn in a new rating daily. Mahaffey gained the NCAA subject his senior yr, yet he missed 50 % the team’s tournaments because his getting qualification ratings weren’t very good enough.
When My spouse and i graduated, we had won 12 of the earlier 17 NCAA titles and finished next within a number of of the others. Our last year we finished minute to Colorado, which acquired Benjamin Crenshaw and Tom Kite. We were so disgusted we covertly used our trophies in the garbage. My spouse and i wish now I had held that trophy. On the other hand, I’ll bet Coach Williams would not have oriented. He or she has been, of course, 100 percent confident that we ought to have earned.
I always try to point out to my personal employees and myself to adhere to a minimum of some of Coach Wil-liams’ guidelines: Discuss good, think throughout your pupils, look for skill, will not kill a young personal natural capacity, never prepare anyone the the same, have pride inside your own teaching talent in how to use your clubs such as titleist irons and, eventually, become an unrelenting advocate for most you wish to influence.
Thanks, Coach. Your players may never forget you.
Press Release: GolfHandicapCalculator.org takes on USGA.org
GHC also feels that the current USGA Handicap Index is not as accurate as it can be and has set out to revolutionize (greatly improve the accuracy of) the golf handicap. First let's take a look at how the USGA Handicap Index is lacking accuracy.
The USGA Handicap Index bases it's course ratings (the difficulty of the golf course) on the educated guesses and feelings of a handful of people. This may have been sufficient 100+ years ago when the USGA was founded but simply provides way too much room for error.
Read more »
72 hole strokeplay trophy - Round 3 draw
Watch Zurich Classic of New Orleans Golf Live Stream Online Sopcast TV Watch PGA Tour HD Video Coverage On Web TV
History of Zurich Classic of New Orleans
- The tournament began in 1938 and was played at City Park Golf Course; the winner was Harry Cooper.
- The tournament has been played annually since 1958.
- New Orleans is the 11th-oldest host city on the PGA TOUR.
- TPC Louisiana is the fourth venue to host the New Orleans Classic. Past courses include City Park Golf Course, Lakewood Country Club, and English Turn Golf and Country Club. Past winners include Billy Casper, Byron Nelson, Jack Nicklaus, Davis Love III, David Toms, and Vijay Singh.
- First National Bank of Commerce (FNBC) was the tournament's first corporate sponsor in 1975.
- The Classic’s second corporate sponsor, USF&G Insurance, dedicated 10 years of sponsorship, which helped the Classic become a major event on the PGA TOUR.
- In 2005, Zurich Financial Services, an insurance-based financial service provider with a global network that focuses its activities on its key markets in North America and Europe, became the title sponsor of the tournament.
- Starting in 2005, Zurich -- together with the Fore!Kids Foundation -- has raised nearly $8 million for more than 40 charities that serve more than 200,000 children in need throughout southeastern Louisiana.
- The Zurich Classic generates more than $30 million annually for the local economy.
- The Zurich Classic provides an additional $16 million annually in national television exposure.
- Over the four days of television coverage, the tournament is seen around the world in 114 countries.
- The 2005 purse reached $5.5 million.
- In 2005, the tournament had more than 40 charity recipients.
- In 2006, The Zurich Classic was the 1st nationally televised sporting event after Hurricane Katrina. Many players committed their earnings from the tournament to Hurricane relief.
- The purse reached $6.0 million in 2006 and $6.1 million in 2007.
- Zurich Financial Services showed its support of New Orleans and the tournament when they renewed their contract as title sponsor for an additional two years, bringing them through 2010.
- The host organization, Fore!Kids Foundation, celebrated its 50th year in 2008.
- Zurich Financial Services furthered its commitment to New Orleans when it announced its extension through the 2014 tournament.
One of the oldest events on the PGA Tour, the New Orleans Open was first contested in 1939. Over the years the tournament has produced a diverse selection of victors - nine different nations have been represented in the winner's circle over the last 25 years. Given the cultural melting pot that is the city of New Orleans, such variation seems appropriate.
Last season Jason Bohn produced four excellent rounds to set a tournament record total of 18-under-par. The American finished two clear of Jeff Overton.
TPC Louisiana was altered dramatically by original designer Pete Dye after the 2005 tournament. Many of his changes involved adding hazards to demand a more strategic approach. It's a course where precision is essential. The greens are relatively large but they are undulating and it's vital to leave yourself on the right side of the flag. With dry conditions forecast, the playing surfaces could become firm, heightening the test.
Date: April 28 - May 1
Course stats: par 72, 7,341 yards
Purse: $6,400,000, Winner: $1,116,000
Defending Champion: Jason Bohn (-18)
TV Coverage:
Thursday 28 - Live on Sky Sports 3 from 8pm
Friday 29 - Live on Sky Sports 3 from 8pm
Saturday 30 - Live on Sky Sports 3 from 9pm
Sunday 1 - Live on Sky Sports 3 from 8pm
Player Watch:
Luke Donald - The Englishman will look to get over the disappointment of missing out last week in a playoff for The Heritage by securing a victory here.
Nick Watney - He's been on fantastic form this year and he won this event in 2007. He has five top-10 finishes already this season, expect this to be his sixth.
Brandt Snedeker - One of the Tour's best putters, he should cope well with the undulating greens at TPC Louisiana. He won last week, posting a superb closing round of 64, he'll look to continue to ride that wave.
Key Hole: 6th. A 476 yard par 4 that requires a long straight drive before the hole turns straight left to leave a long iron or fairway wood to the green. It generally ranks as the toughest hole on the course.
Skills required: Course management. The winner will carefully plot his way round this re-designed layout. Bludgeoning it with the driver is not always the most prudent option.
Was John Daly implying Tiger Woods wasn't getting any?
Earlier today, John Daly sat down with Sports Radio 790, ostensibly to talk about working with former Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett and his relationship with Jon Gruden. The conversation started along those lines, but quickly took a turn for the Tiger Woods. From there, the questions about Tiger’s sexual escapades soon followed. And in discussing Tiger’s troubles, Daly, as always, wasn’t boring.
Daly started off with some kind words for Gruden, calling him his “new psychologist,” someone who’s “always positive,” and a “great guy to talk to.” He also talked about what he could have handled better during his career…a natural lead-in to Tiger. Daly talked with Tiger after his personal life fell apart, and believed Tiger should have been more forthcoming, and sooner:
“I told him – I said, if you would have come out after that night of the incident and told the world what was going on, not listened to your agents, not listened to anybody else, what your heart said and thought – what you just told me – this story would have ended in one day.”
Interesting, no? Tiger must have had a pretty good reason, then, for doing what he did. Daly said he didn’t want to share what the reason was, but some things he said later on in the interview started to clear things up a bit.
“You’re looking at a guy all the way to his college days, all it was was golf, golf, golf, golf, golf..he never had a chance to live a life. You know, certain things people go through, certain things you like, certain things you don’t like…He found out late what he really liked…He didn’t have a chance to find out what women were like…until his late teens…almost 20.”
Getting warmer…
“My exes…they didn’t want to have sex anymore. And when that happens, and I’ve always been straight up front with every one of ‘em: I said, if you’re not gonna give it to me, I am gonna go get it somewhere else…is that adultery? Well, maybe so, but from what I understand, when you’re married they’re supposed to give it to you.”
A-ha! But that was Daly talking about his life, not Tiger’s. But then one of the interviewers asked Daly if Tiger could have gotten away with going up in front of reporters and telling them essentially what Daly just did – that he wasn’t getting any at home. Daly’s response?
“Exactly…that’s what I did.”
They asked him again if Tiger could have gotten away with it. Daly: “I think so.” He added that had Tiger been up front from the beginning, there wouldn’t have been women claiming affairs left and right. So while Daly never quite came right out and said, “Tiger wasn’t getting any from Elin anymore” – well, we’ll agree with Guyism that he couldn’t have implied it much more strongly. Like we said, John Daly: never boring.
Se Ri Pak returns to place of three previous victories
The LPGA and World Golf Hall of Famer is coming off her best finish of the year three weeks ago at the Kraft Nabisco Championship with a tie for 10th. Now, she finds herself at a course where she has won three tournament titles going into the Classic starting Thursday. It's not home for the South Korean, but it sure feels that way.
Pak has competed in 10 previous tournaments on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail course, winning three times, including last year's Bell Micro LPGA Classic. She also won the 2001 and 2002 Mitchell Company Tournament of Champions titles on the same course.
"Everyone asks why you're so good on that golf course," Pak said Wednesday. "I don't exactly know why my game suits in this golf course. But the golf course, you kind of — you have to (be) really smart playing. You know, like you're not always hitting straight. (It) doesn't always have to be a great shot on the golf course. But this course you have to think how this shot, next shot, how to make it good, make sure which shot is easier.
"I guess overall, my game is pretty good on this golf course."
Obviously. In her previous appearances at the Crossings Course Pak has an overall score of 42 under par. That includes last year when she won with a 13-under score in 54 holes of play. The final round was cancelled because of rain and Pak, Brittany Lincicome and Suzann Pettersen played a sudden death playoff on the 18th hole to determine the winner.
Pak dropped a 10-foot birdie putt on the third playoff hole after Lincicome had made a 30-foot, downhill par putt. Pak said when she returned for practice rounds this week she was greeted with a sense of familiarity.
"You have a great memory about it," she said of the course. "Of course, this week is going to be a strong field but it's supposed to be on the LPGA Tour."
Five other former champions of tournaments on this course, and nine of the top 10-ranked players, are in the field. There's also Stacy Lewis, who is coming off her first LPGA win — and her first major championship — having won the Kraft Nabisco Championship in the previous LPGA event. Lincicome and Pettersen are back, as is world No. 1 Yani Tseng, who has one LPGA win, two wins in Australia, a win in Taiwan and a second-place finish in the Kraft Nabisco to her credit this season.
"I played this two, three years already and I've never done good," Tseng said of her previous Magnolia Grove experiences, when she finished tied for 33rd last year and tied for 35th in 2008.
There are six Canadians in the field. They include Lorie Kane of Charlottetown, Alena Sharp of Hamilton, Stephanie Sherlock of Barrie, Ont., Jessica Shepley of Owen Sound, Ont., Lisa Meldrum of Montreal and Samantha Richdale of Kelowna, B.C.
This marks the first LPGA tournament since April 3, and the first competition for most of the field during that span.
Paula Creamer makes her return to the Crossings Course where she has won events as an amateur and a professional for the first time since the course underwent major renovations. The tournament wasn't played in 2008 when the LPGA changed its date on the schedule and Creamer missed last year's tournament as she recovered from thumb surgery. She won the Mitchell Company Tournament of Champions crown here in 2007.
"You always want to play with the best players," Creamer said. "You want to have the strongest fields that you can. That makes the tournament special and makes it more exciting for everybody. You know you have to play well and you have to beat a lot of good players."
Karrie Webb, Dorothy Delasin, Christina Kim, Angela Stanford and Creamer have all won titles at Magnolia Grove in the past.
John Smoltz to tee it up on Nationwide Tour
Former all star Atlanta Braves pitcher John Smoltz will be teeing it up on the Nationwide Tour on April 28th. He accepted a sponsor's exemption to play in the South Georgia Classic at Kinderlou Forest Golf Club.
"I'm not afraid to fail but failure is right there," said Smoltz. "I know it's not easy. I just want to see what it's like. I want to know what my body feels like. I want to know if that tension creeps up."
Smoltz is a scratch player and his game has been vouched for by Tiger Woods, who says he brings a great deal of tenacity to his golf game.
It will be very interesting to see how Smoltz handles his nerves and the pressures of tournament golf.
Tim Tebow Charity Golf Tournament set to go
The Tim Tebow Foundation Celebrity Golf Classic will be held May 7th at Dye's Valley Course at TPC Sawgrass in Florida. The tournament will feature Tebow, NFL Pro Bowlers Adrian Peterson, Fred Taylor, Elvis Dumervil, David Garrard, and Jason Taylor, as well as several well known Florida Gators. The tournament will raise money for youth around the world with net proceeds going to the Tim Tebow Foundation and The First Tee.
Should a golfer be number-one without a major?
Type "World Golf Rankings" into Google and you will be exposed to less-than-positive perspectives ranging from "unimpressive" to "who cares?" How important are the World Golf Rankings and to whom?
John Feinstein, a contributor to GolfChannel.com writes, "in a pure golf sense, the world rankings are used to determine who gets into major championships, who gets into lucrative World Golf Championship events and, in the case of the WGC match play event, the rankings determine the seeding of the 64 players."
“Ranking Points”, according to the Official World Golf Ranking website, "are awarded according to the players’ finishing positions and are generally related to the strength of the field. The four Major Championships are rated separately to reflect the higher quality of the events."
Points span a two-year "rolling" period so Tiger Woods' with his big point spread was able to remain in the top spot during most of the 2010 season despite not winning an event all year! Cause for concern?
Now that Woods has finally "released his stranglehold" from the top spot of the OWGR, a shuffling of golfers has allowed the rankings to truly become more global. However, as soon as one player wins, another takes his place. Is this constant shift good for the game and the fans?
Lee Westwood, tagged as the latest 'golfer never to win a major', regained his number one status on the OWGR last week with a win at the Indonesian Masters. An appearance fee of $500,000 tempted him there but the only player with a top-50 ranking at the event certainly made it easier to climb the rankings with a good showing. Although Westwood's victory was worth twenty world ranking points, Luke Donald had to win in order to become the world number-one.
The points awarded at the Indonesian Masters was the same amount as a third-place finish at The Heritage, the PGA Tour's stop last week.
Is too much emphasis being placed on points? Should points or the fans determine who should be number-one golfer in the world?
With the shuffling of the OWGR three times since the end of 2010, golf writers and fans are now waking up to the fact that this rating system needs to be scrutinized and adapted for a global environment: perhaps a voting system to take into account appearance fees, two-year accruable points and other basic "common sense" issues.
Whereas Feinstein believes that "golf experts" should have a say, should a voice also be given to the avid golf fan, the publinks golfer, and golfers new to the sport and to whom the sport is trying to entice to grow the game? The number-one golfer in the world used to be recognizable: not knowing the names on top of the World Golf Rankings could hurt viewership with no real hero to talk about or cheer onward.
Perhaps a golfer should not even be considered for the number one spot unless he has at least one major in his professional career?
The top five players in the World Golf Rankings this week are: Westwood, Kaymer, Donald, Mickelson and McDowell.
Mark Paul, a fan who added his thoughts to Yahoo Sports, received the top spot in Google Golf News for the term "World Golf Rankings" this week. He questioned, "how impressed should golf fans be by these rankings?"
"Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer, and Luke Donald," Paul stated, "are all within percentage points of each other. However, it is easily the least impressive top three in the history of the rankings."
Ron Furlong in his Bleacher Report column asked "Who Cares?" calling the World Golf Rankings title "make-believe."
"In the end, the rankings mean very little to nothing. In fact, the rankings often don't even depict who the best player in the world is."
So, in fact, with so much buzz circulating about the rankings in the world of golf, it should be determined that they are a big deal. If you could pick the number-one golfer in the world, who would you choose? Do you agree with the current rankings?
Voice your opinion: Golf4Beginners on Twitter
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Golf Tournaments
Golf events are superior fundraising, client hosting and community/membership appreciation tools. The BIG profit in every golf tournament comes directly from "partnerships". Marketing your golf event correctly will give you the "real edge" you need to succeed. Whether you are watching a major tournament of pros or involved in a local event, golf tournaments are the best way to enjoy golf. Maybe you even have what it takes to play and earn the respect of your golfing friends, not to mention the money you can make by winning.
From small club events to large state or national events, golf tournaments are the best way to improve your golf game and enjoy the action of competition. People who are in charge of putting together special golf tournaments and events always try to provide great prizes and gifts for their golf outing. Obviously though, the owner of the golf course would have a very difficult time handing over a check for an amount like that. Usually corporate golf gifts like logo golf balls are given before or after a golf tournament.
If you're a sponsor for a golf tournament, you can add your business logo to the golf award or golf promotional item. Not only are such promotional golf products practical and useful, but they also result in more visibility for your company. These golf awards, golf prizes and logo golf gifts are used and valued by your clients and colleagues long after they receive them. A golf gift or golf award with your company logo gets recognition.
The best of companies deserve the best of corporate golf gifts. Choose the perfect promotional golf product for your next corporate golf promotion or choose your next custom golf giveaway for your next golf tournament. Choose unique golf trophies and awards for your next golf tournament, charity golf outing or golf league. Planning a successful charity golf tournament is demanding.
Considering a tournament director needs to allow at least 6-9 months to properly plan -- the return on investment calculated in time, money and used resources is extremely low. When tournament directors make giant leaps in their bottom line from one year to the next, no one asks if I know
WHY our system worked that made the money. The relationship between sponsor and tournament has peeked. You've just added "financial stagnation" to your tournament. The BIG profit in every golf tournament comes directly from "partnerships".
James Clark is a successful Webmaster and publisher of
www.AGolfersParadise.com. He provides more information about
golf and golf issues that you can research in your pajamas on his website.
Tiger Woods out with injury
The golf world just got a bit more boring for the next few weeks with the announcement from Tiger Woods that he will be out with an injury. According to his website, he will miss at least the Wells Fargo Championship due to a mild MCL strain of his left knee and a mild achilles strain. The injuries were suffered when he made a crazy swing from under a tree off the pine straw on the 17th at Augusta during round three of the Masters.
If the next tournament was a major championship, there is no doubt Woods would play but he's being more cautious about recovering from his injuries this time, unlike his decision to play the 2008 U.S. Open, which of course he won with broken leg.
In this Hank Haney article, Haney discussed what the doctors told Woods prior to that U.S. Open and as we now know, the rest is golf history.
What I remember most was the doctor [Thomas Rosenberg] coming to Tiger's house before that U.S. Open and showing him the MRI images on a laptop computer, showing him the two stress fractures, and Tiger not paying very much attention. I asked Dr. Rosenberg [who later performed the surgery to repair Tiger's torn ACL] what the treatment regimen was. He said it meant three weeks on crutches, then inactive for three weeks, then Tiger could start rehab. I remember looking at the calendar and saying, "So he's basically done for the year, right?" At that point Tiger came alive. He said, "I'm playing in the U.S. Open, and I'm going to win." He bent over and started putting on his shoes. "Come on, Hank, we're going to practice." I looked at Dr. Rosenberg and said, "I guess we're going to go practice."Love that story.
Golf Betting Odds for the Zurich Classic
The Zurich Classic of New Orleans kicks off Thursday at the TPC Louisiana with Jason Bohn as the defending champion. Luke Donald, current world #3, and Nick Watney, winner of the tournament in 2007, come in as the betting favorites to win.
Notable player betting odds from Bodog.
Luke Donald 9-1
Nick Watney 12-1
Steve Stricker 18-1
Justin Rose 22-1
Bubba Watson 25-1
K.J. Choi 25-1
Brandt Snedeker 28-1
Graeme McDowell 33-1
Rickie Fowler 33-1
Sean O'Hair 66-1
Jason Bohn 125-1
David Duval 175-1
Tiger Woods headlines in Las Vegas
Tiger Woods' flat blade may not be earning much money for either the former number-one golfer or his Foundation so it is up to Tiger Jam 2011 to make up the difference.
On April 30th, Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas and Woods will host the thirteenth annual Tiger Jam. Last year, the Charity Concert did not take place as Tiger sorted out his domestic life issues.
The "exclusive VIP" fundraising "Jam" has raised $12 million to date for the Tiger Woods Foundation and features some of the best musical talent on the planet.
This year Grammy award winning artists John Mayer and Keith Urban will rock the house with a blend of country, rhythm and blues. Before the Concert, Tiger Jam features dinner and a silent auction "filled with a vast array of unique experiences and luxury items from entertainment personalities and sports teams, fine jewelry, spectacular resort getaways and one-of-a-kind experiences."
photo credit: Chaplain of Pop
"I'm thrilled these two talented musicians are joining us for Tiger Jam," Tiger Woods said. "We have had so much success with this event over the last thirteen years and we are excited to continue that tradition."
Tickets (starting at about $70) are still available for the Concert through Ticketmaster. A limited number of sponsorship packages are available ($1,000) which include access to the Concert, a Tiger Jam Reception and House of Blues Party where you might even catch Tiger Woods busting a move.
What has Tiger Woods been up to when not playing golf on the PGA Tour? Could he be gearing up to re-invent himself as the new PING-PONG champion in China?
Check out this seven second video on the Tiger Woods website in which Woods' backhand goes up against Chinese Olympic gold medal hurdler Liu Xiang.
"Great day hanging out with Liu Xiang in Beijing, really cool dude. Hope he does well in London games next year." 12 days ago on Tiger Woods' Twitter page.
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Westwood reclaims #1 in world, Luke falls just short
Donald would have jumped from No. 3 to No. 1 with a victory, but lost to Brandt Snedeker on the second hole of a playoff.
After waiting out a lightning delay on the final hole, Westwood finished off a 3-under 69 for a three-stroke victory over Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee.
The English star, ranked second behind Martin Kaymer entering the week, won on his 38th birthday.
Asked what he wanted for his birthday, Westwood replied, "Something silver and shiny."
As he stepped off the 18th green a portion of the gallery sang "Happy Birthday."
Westwood finished at 19-under 269 in the Asian Tour event at Royale Jakarta. He took a five-stroke lead into the final day after opening with rounds of 68, 66 and 66.
"It was quite a day, really," Westwood said. "I knew it wasn't going to be easy with a five-shot lead. I'm experienced enough to know that patience is the key.
"I hit the ball great, but didn't hit the putts when it mattered."
He did hole a tricky birdie putt on No. 11.
"It was probably the hardest putt I had all day. it was 15 feet with 3 feet of break," he said.
Jaidee shot a 65.
BALLANTYNE CUP RESULT
Brandt Snedeker: By the numbers at the Heritage
Brandt Snedeker celebrates after defeating Luke Donald in a playoff on the 18th hole during the final round of The Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
Brandt Snedeker came out blazing Sunday with a front nine 30, finished with a 7-under 64, and then beat Luke Donald on the third playoff hole to win the Heritage. Snedeker earned his second career PGA Tour victory and moved into the top ten of the Fed Ex Point Standings.
Scores: 69,67,72,64 -12
Fairways in regulation: 80.4% (T3)
Greens in regulation: 61.1 (T30)
Sand saves: 57.1 (T24)
Putts per round: 25.8 (T4)
Total birdies: 21 (1)
Prize Money: $1,026,000.00
Fed Ex Points: 500
Westwood finally gets another win and possibly #1 ranking to boot
Lee Westwood won the Indonesian Masters on Sunday to put himself in position to move back to No. 1 in the Official World Golf Ranking, if Luke Donald fails to win the PGA TOUR event in South Carolina.
Donald had a one-stroke lead entering the final round of The Heritage and would jump from No. 3 to No. 1 with a victory. Top-ranked Martin Kaymer took the week off.
Westwood, who celebrated his 38th birthday on Sunday, opened the final round birdie-bogey and then made eight straight pars.
The birdie on hole 11 was the turning point in Westwood's round.
"It was probably the hardest putt I had all day, it was 15 feet with 3 feet of break," he said.
After waiting out a lightning delay on the final hole, he finished off a 3-under 69 for a three-stroke victory over Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee.
The Englishman totaled 19-under 269 in the Asian Tour event at Royale Jakarta.
As he stepped off the 18th green a portion of the gallery erupted singing "Happy Birthday" -- and Westwood had plenty to smile about.
When asked what he wanted for his birthday, Lee replied with a grin, "Something silver and shiny."
"It was quite a day really," he continued. "I knew it wasn't gonna be easy with a five-shot lead. I'm experience enough to know that patience is the key. I hit the ball great, but didn't hit the putts when it mattered."
Lee had only positive things to say about the inaugural Indonesian Masters.
"Fantastic golf course in brilliant condition," he said. "I have been to Indonesia twice and have had a great time and the playing field will only get stronger."
Park Hyun-bin of South Korea briefly shared the lead with Westwood before a bogey on No. 11. Jaidee made a charge but missed a few key puts on his way to shooting a 65.
FINLAY TEXAS SCRAMBLE
10.00 - J.McCOUIG, C.McNAB, K. MACLEOD, I McCOUIG
10.07 - S.FENNER, R.McINTOSH, J.BRAND, B.MOORE
10.15 - J.DOUGLAS, E.FENWICK, J.GILLSON, J.MacFARLANE
10.22 - K.FINLAY, G.GRAY, R.PEACOCK, G.BULLOCK
10.30 - S.PEACOCK, R.FRASER, E.RALSTON, P.TINKER
10.37 - W.NICOLL, H.DAWSON, M. M.STRACHAN, I.SCOTT
10.45 - M.MENZIES, S.BAILEY, C.TINKER, R.HAYNES
10.52 - L.ROSS, M.GALBALLY, J.GROOM, A.MORRISON
Recent competition results
Summer League Card 1
1st A Easton 70-3=67
2nd B Griffin 85-17=68 (bih)
3rd G Dolby 80-12=68
CSS = 70
Playing Handicap revisions - down
B Griffin now 16 and R Donaldson now 19
Playing Handicap revisions - up
David Alexander now 14; Dave Alexander now 15 and S Barclay now 10
Twos were recorded by A Blair @ 6th; P Upperton @ 6th; D Douglas @ 6th and S Barclay @ 13th.
72 Hole Strokeplay Trophy - Round 2
1st S Thomson 70-2=68
2nd F Barber 89-20=69 (bih)
3rd M Scott 73-4=69
CSS = 71
Playing Handicap revisions - down
I McGowan now 12 and D McDonald now 21
Playing Handicap revisions - up
R Tinker now 5 and M Shepherd now 21
Twos were recorded by A Easton @ 6th; S Tosh @ 6th and N Dyce @ 13th
There have been recent problems with scores being transferred to Howdidido. The problem is being investigated and will hopefully be resolved shortly.
Golf List Mania
The new book Golf List Mania! by authors Leonard Shapiro and Ed Sherman is now available. Shapiro, with 40 years of sports writing experience with the Washington Post, and Sherman, with 27 years as a sports writer with the Chicago Tribune, have combined to compile a variety of both humorous and creative golf lists and rankings. The book also includes a foreword by everyone's favorite golf quote analyst, Jim Nantz.
Examples of lists you will see:
- My Five Most Important Victories (by Arnold Palmer)
- Why We Hate Golf
- David Feherty's Best Lines
- Great Caddyshack Lines
- Ten Most Overrated Players
- John Daly By The Numbers
- Best Short Games
- The Perfect Golfer
- 10 Best Courses You Can Play
- Biggest Chokes
Celebrate weddings and events at world class golf clubs in the US
These golf clubs specialize in hosting wedding ceremonies. Even they can go to the extent of hosting a rehearsal dinner for their customers. These golf clubs help their customers plan up weddings and events and provide customize menus as decided by the hosts.
Golf clubs also employ a team of courteous staff members who are very experienced in providing hospitality services to all of their guests. They consistently strive to make their guests evening a very memorable one.
Apart from weddings, golf clubs even cater to couples who would love to chill out in evening with Romantic dinner. Many of these golf clubs today have a multi-cuisine outdoor restaurant, coffee shops and sports bars, etc. Members at the club can treat themselves to an array of cuisines ranging from Italian to Mexican to inter-continental and barbeque dishes. A number of PGA as well LPGA tournaments are often held at these venues. You may be able to catch a glimpse or even have the privilege to play with one during the golfing season.
A number of corporate executives often conduct their business lunches at these golf clubs. These executive people can have gala time playing golf after finishing their business meetings. Golf clubs also generate huge amounts of revenue by renting out their banquet halls to MNCs for such occasions. Fees charged by these golf clubs depend upon the facilities. They manage to attract customers by offering unbelievable discounts to all of their loyal customers which varies from season to season.
Now, in case you and your colleagues plan a golfing tournament then just inform the golf club authorities in advance. After setting a particular date for a tournament, you will be notified accordingly. These clubs provide their players with all the golfing equipment and accessories as per requirement.
Celebrating weddings and events at such serene places gives you a chance to make the occasion more exciting for you as well as others who attend it.
Read more: http://www.articlesbase.com/hotels-articles/celebrate-weddings-and-events-at-world-class-golf-clubs-in-the-us-3744337.html#ixzz1KGWiRQuv
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution
#*%&# that! Pros to be fined at Open Championship
Warning to Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, or any other pros who curse or spit at this year's Open Championship. Players may be publicly fined for these actions if they don't mind their golf etiquette.
I was under the impression that players were already fined for these actions and according to rumors, Woods has been fined the most of any player in PGA Tour history. This warnings just adds that the fines will be made public.
"These guys are role models and we are looking for them to behave as well as possible on the course," said R & A chief Peter Dawson.