Golfgal on GFW

Rocco Mediate - CinderFella personified

2008's US Open was arguably the most exciting golf I've ever seen.  It started with Tiger's double bogey on the first hole on day one (shock #1) and ending with double overtime with golf world's most unlikely challenger - Rocky Rocco Mediate (shock #...I lost count!). 

What made it so exciting, besides the fact that the world's number one was in a playoff with someone who had to qualify even to get into this major, was the fact that there were so many instances when you sat up or stood up in front of the TV and said, "DID YOU SEE THAT!"

Here are just a few things that made it the best US Open ever!

1.  Torrey Pines provided a fabulous venue - what spectacular views!  I sure hope they bring it back there again.  I know one thing - I plan to play that course next January when I'm in San Diego before my cruise.  I watched Tiger play there in February and was blown away by the course and that man's scary talent.  I can't wait to reignite the feelings of this weekend by playing there myself.

2.  Rocco took Tiger to 90 holes!  He's 45 years old and if he would have won, he would have been the oldest player ever to win a major.   He was 158 in the world's rankings.  He was 126th on the money list.  He hasn't won in the last 138 starts (I guess it's 139 now).   His last win was 6 years ago.  And what was really cool, was that the audience was cheering for him over Tiger! (according to The Golf Channel's poll).

3. Emotions were coming through the TV set. We really felt the pain of players - Tiger's knee pain (made me feel sick to watch him double over) - Phil's quad-bogey pain (my mouth went dry - I had to turn away) - Els's triple-bogey pain (I wanted to cry) - Westwood's final putt pain to miss the playoff (and Britain's chances for a win since Tony Jacklin).  And we felt their joy - Tiger's joy on making it into the playoff - Els chipping it in when he couldn't make a putt all day - Rocco's joy at just being there! 

4.  It was anyone's tournament - the scores were so close through the entire weekend.  At one point I was sure Jimenez was going to jump to the top of the leader board, then Els had many great chances (if he had just holed a few putts), then Westwood appeared to have it in the bag on Sunday. And of course, CinderFella himself, seemed to have a "leg up" on Tiger  going into the 18th playoff hole 1 shot ahead. Who would have ever guessed it would come so close? 

5.  The Golf Digest US Open Challenge was a fun addition to the event.  I had hoped for a little better outcome and more real golf, but it was still a great idea and Atkinson should be proud of the way he handled himself.  I sure hope we see a ladies event like this someday soon (wink wink GFW :))

6. For the first time, I watched a PGA event and chatted online to all the fanatics out there in golf forum land at the same time.  After every shot, someone was giving their two cents on the tournament or player.  It was like a huge chat room - very exciting - very aggravating - very tense - but lots of fun!  I felt connected with golfers all over the world.  At one point there were 192 members on the US Open thread.  That was cool!

7.  But the best thing of all was "The Hug" - Tiger and Rocco in a bear hug.  I felt like I was watching Tiger and his dad at the Masters or Tiger and Stevie when he won the Open after his dad had passed away.  Brought tears to my eyes...

Well, it's good that majors don't happen every week. I don't think my nerves could stand it. 

Congratulations to the 2 US Open champions - Tiger who now holds the trophy for the 3rd time and Rocco who captured our hearts forever.

Golfgal

www.golfgal-blog.com

Great golf - even without Tiger and Lorena

What an exciting weekend in golf - even without Lorena or Tiger!

First, Annika Sorenstam held off Paula Creamer on the first playoff hole to win the Stanford International and the 71st title of her career.  It's heartwarming to see Annika playing so well again and win her 2nd event this year.

Next, Adam Scott, the "too cute for words" Australian, long overdue for a win, sank an unmakeable 48-foot birdie putt on the third playoff hole yesterday to defeat Ryan Moore of the U.S. and win the Byron Nelson Championship.  I thought only Tiger Woods did things like that.  But perhaps Mr. Butch Harmon was right when he said that Adam"is the only one who can challenge Tiger Woods in the next four or five years".

But the story that touched me the most, was the come back of the decade, when Darren Clarke of Northern Ireland won the BMW Asian Open with a 40 foot putt on the final hole (see Irish Independent story below).  Darren has won 2 World Championships and 9 other European Tour events, but this one was by far the sweetest. 

Not a lot of North Americans follow the European Tour, but few golfers wouldn't know Darren Clarke.  The amiable Ulster man made US headlines in 2006 when he was chosen as a Ryder Cup Captain's pick only 6 weeks after he tragically lost his wife, Heather, to cancer.  I was one of those skeptics who thought it was too soon and that he wouldn't be able to perform at the highly stressed event, but his courage and determination made him a star at the Ryder Cup.  It was one of the most emotional Cups I have ever watched and even now it brings tears to the back of my eyes when I remember Darren winning his match 3-2 over Zach Johnson on the 16th hole and breaking down into tears.  I still get goosebumps over that.

Everyone who knows him, loves Darren Clarke, with his Spike hair and a grin that would make any golf gal swoon.  Sure, he smokes a cigar on the course when plays and he can drink you under the table, but he is a dedicated professional.  He is well loved by players on both sides of the pond.  Even when Elin Woods won her court case, she donated her money to a charity in his wife's name. 

This weekend, Clarke dedicated his win to his two little boys, Tyrone and Connor.  And hearing him say it brought more tears to my eyes. 

“This is very special, probably the greatest I have achieved. It has been the toughest of them all, to try and get back up to where I feel my golf should be. It’s nice to win again, a very good feeling.  Hopefully, I have made Tyrone and Connor very proud,” said Clarke. “This was always going to be a massive hurdle for me, to get the first win since Heather had passed away.  It’s nice that I just about managed to clamber over it. Being honest, I probably fell over. [Always a joke for the media from the Irishmen :)]

I've been watching the European Tour looking for the old Darren since 2006, and this year I really felt he was coming back into his prime again.  Every weekend I looked for him on the leader board and this year he hasn't been that far off.  A year ago, he could hardly make a cut.

How many of us could go through such heartbreak and come back out the other side?  I'm not sure I could do that. I probably would have quit after last year.  Heck, I wanted to quit yesterday after a pathetic round of golf.  But Clarke, with the support of family and friends (many of them PGA Tour pros) never gave up.  He is a great role model for his kids and us adults too.

Welcome back Darren!  I will be your biggest supporter for this year's Ryder Cup team.  Given your comeback this year, I have no doubt, there's a major win inside of you, just clamoring to get out!

Golfgal
www.golfgal-blog.com

Photo by: © Isogood | Dreamstime.com

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Wonder- putt secures Clarke’s ‘greatest win’

Irish Independent
28 Apr 2008

DARREN CLARKE threw his arms wide in utter elation. “Yeahhhhhhhhhh,” the Ulsterman roared, before catching his caddie Phil ‘Wobbly’ Morbey in big bear hug. “Wow,” said Clarke. Wow indeed. There could have been no more spectacular conclusion to Clarke’s...read more...

Tech Tags: Irish Independent newspaper Sport

Will the Olympics be Golf's next major?

It's funny how a topic comes up every 6 months or so and everyone gets on a bandwagon, but nothing ever seems to get done.  Well, maybe now that PGA Tour  commissioner Tim Finchem has finally announced his support of golf being an Olympic sport, it just might happen.

Golf was part of the Olympics in 1900 and 1904, but some dorks (I'm using a Christina Lecuyer term of endearment here :)) decided all that should change and so 104 years later, we're still debating an issue which should be a no-brainer..

Last fall Phil Mickelson came forward and said “I think if golf became an Olympic sport, it would help golf on a global basis." 

Ernie Els and Nick Faldo are somewhat supportive but think it should be for the  top amateurs only.  But the Olympic Committee has made it clear they don't want golf unless the world's best players would compete and that means Tiger Woods.

Unfortunately, Tiger shares Els' and Faldo's view, making it clear he wouldn't compete, "It would be great to have an Olympic gold medal," he said, "but if you asked any player, 'Would you rather have an Olympic gold medal or green jacket or Claret Jug', more players would say the majors."

Hmmm...I wonder about that...

Look what the last Claret Jug winner Padraig Harrington said, "Some golfers say we now have four majors and that is enough. But the four majors were not the four majors 70 years ago. You never know, in 50 years maybe the Olympics will be the No. 1 major. It has to start somewhere. I would put in on my schedule now."

I like the way you think Padraig!

There are lots of arguments against golf in the Olympics and its effect on sponsors and the PGA Tour in its prime schedule.  But I agree with USGA Executive Director David Fay who, like Lefty, says we have to think globally, "Golf in the Olympics could grow the game worldwide, particularly in places where it's not that big. Take countries like Croatia or Russia. In order to jump-start interest and support of the sport in these countries, you need money. The best way to get that is through two sources —- your government or the national Olympic committee, For these countries, there's no substitute for it being an Olympic medal sport."

Anything that grows interest in golf gets my full support.  And anything that can grow interest in women's golf gets my undying gratitude!   Apparently the LPGA has previously indicated their support, so hopefully women and men will be on the Olympic greens together in 2012.

But you just never know...2010 is full of controversy over women's ski jumpers not being allowed to compete in Vancouver.  Surely the IOC wouldn't make two sexual discrimation blunders in one decade. 

Golfgal

www.golfgal-blog.com

Icon image by: © Sabri Deniz Kizil | Dreamstime.com

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Clearing hazards for an Olympic tee time
Nicole Jeffery Golf Additional reporting: Agencies
The Australian
17 Apr 2008

THE sport’s push for inclusion in the 2016 Olympic Games gained momentum yesterday with the endorsement of USPGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem. The co-operation of the allpowerful USPGA Tour is essential if the sport is to return to the Games after an...read more...

Tech Tags: The Australian newspaper Sport

Master Champion Trevor Immelman - could he be #2?

2006 you're on top of the world and named PGA Rookie of the Year.

2007 you contract a serious virus, lose 20 pounds and wonder if you're ever going to feel strong enough to compete again.

Then just as you get your game back on track and tie for 6th place at the 2007 PGA Championship, life tries to knock you down again, putting you in the hospital to have surgery to remove a tumor from your ribcage.  You can barely walk for 2 weeks.

How do you enter 2008? 

Well, I don't know how you would do it, but I'd tentatively enter the year, hoping to make some cuts and come back slowly, not taking any risks...not expecting too much of myself...staying low of the radar.

Thank goodness, Trevor Immelman isn't me!

Known for focus, determination, a competitive nature second only perhaps to Tiger Woods, Trevor Immelman did it his way and he was awarded the coveted green jacket with a score of -8, 3 ahead of the world's number one (Tiger Woods), and 6 ahead of the world's number 2 (Phil Mickelson).

I loved watching Trevor this weekend. His poise and focus were very evident as he walked the course with his head down, concentrating on every shot.   The crowds were loud and supportive and he tipped his hat often, but he never lost focus of what he was trying to do.

Even when he holed his final putt to win, there was no Tiger-like fist pump - no "YES!" - no antics of any kind. He was calm, quiet and gracious.  It almost looked to me like he was in a bit of a daze. 

When asked in the post round press conference how it has been for him given all his challenges over the last year, Immelman shared honestly, "It's been the ultimate roller coaster ride and I hate roller coasters....and after missing the cut last week to winning the Masters this week, it's the craziest thing I've ever heard of."

Going into 2008, Immelman said he was eager to play, but his game wasn't there; he wasn't happy with the way he was playing.  He had to start from zero again, but he kept chipping away, trying to stay positive as he slowly got better.

I've always enjoyed watching Trevor play golf, but I really didn't know that much about him. 

I didn't realize that he said he wanted to be the number one in the world at the age of 5. 

I didn't know that he was so competitive with his sister playing board games, that if he didn't win, he wouldn't play.  haha...

I didn't know that his mother used to caddie for him at tournaments and said to him, "I won't walk in the rough and I won't rake bunkers.  If you go into either of those places, you'll have to deal with that yourself."  And sure enough, she'd sit in the middle of the fairway and he'd have to walk back and forth to get his clubs - LOL!

There was a lot I didn't know about the first South African since Gary Player to win a Masters, but after he won, the TV was full of great stories and facts about his life.  Isn't it great to see someone being profiled besides Tiger Woods?

Trevor is blessed with talent, amazing good looks and a beautiful family.  He refers to his wife as "fantastic" - gotta love that!  They met in high school 15 years ago and have a very young son Jacob, who he obviously adores.  It was great to see Jacob run to his dad on the 18th hole - that's when we saw the big smile and joy on Trevor's face (and what a smile!). 

I just heard Trevor say on TV that he wants to be a role model to young kids.  Well, Trevor, as far as I am concerned...

- your professional demeanor on the course (no spitting in cups, not chewing tabacco, no smashing of clubs)

- your kinds words for your fellow competitor, Zach Johnston (calling him a fantastic man, fine champion and an incredible ambassador)

- your public recognition of the sacrifices your parents made to help you achieve your dream

- your commitment to your family

- and your humility in front of the cameras and fans

tell me, you're already a great role model. 

Called a diamond that needs a little polish by Gary Player, Trevor Immelman is a rising star who could have fallen after his past year of health scares.  But instead, Trevor Immelman is shining bright and I believe he has the talent and perseverance to climb the ladder to number 2 by the end of 2008.

What do you think?

Golfgal

www.golfgal-blog.com

Ryder Cup 2008 - Let the mud-slinging begin!

I'm not sure if you read the story last week about US Ryder Cup Captain, Paul Azinger taking pot shots at European Captain, Nick Faldo, but it resulted a lot of indignation by many golf analysts and commentators on The Golf Channel and in the golf forums.  Whether you like this kind of tabloid talk or not, it does makes headlines and it does create drama...lots and lots of drama - very "Big Break-like".

Now, before we start throwing flaming golf balls at the guys for misbehaving, we golfgals should look at our own Solheim Cup antics and remember some mud wrestling of the female kind...

Remember the Irish Independent's story about Catrin Nilsmark's remarks about Cristie Kerr being a "brat" and Michelle Redman "having no talent"? 

And what about Laura Davies saying she was friends with everyone on the US Solheim Cup team last year, except for "one".  That really got us going - who was that "one"?  Rumour has it that it was Nicole Castrale, but it really doesn't matter.  I think Laura planted that statement for a reason -- drama.

Anyway, it would appear that even with Azinger's back peddling on the comments made about Nick Faldo in the Daily Mail, some European Ryder Cup members are not taking it lying down.

Lee Westwood, who is looking very fit these days and seems to be in a bit of a resurgence with his game (coincidence?), took no time stepping forward to defend his captain, "I don’t know why you’d stir it unless you were worried about the outcome.  I think he [Azinger] must be trying to wind us up."

However, Westwood was quick to speculate that perhaps Azinger was just trying to create some early media attention for the Ryder Cup, "It must have been tongue in cheek. Nobody would be writing about the Ryder Cup just now if there wasn’t a bit of mud-slinging.   It does sound like playground stuff. Next it will be my daddy's bigger than your daddy. Comments like that can't be serious."

So is Westwood brushing it off?  Or is he trying to stir the pot a little more himself?

In reference to Azinger's comments that Faldo being unpopular with a generation of golfers, Westwood countered, "I think everybody gets on with Nick. There's no European who's better respected. I’ve played with him in the Ryder Cup and he's great to play with."

Darren Clarke, who is also showing some of his old talent these days shared, "They've obviously had a few clashes in the past, and you know Zinger's a very fiery personality – that's the way he is. The two of them don’t see eye to eye – that’s pretty much public knowledge. He's [Faldo] a six-time major champion and the best player we’ve ever had. Whether people like him or loathe him – and it's pretty obvious you have people in both camps – you cannot disrespect at any stage what he has done in the game. His record speaks for itself. He is a legend in the game of golf."

Anyway...I can't wait to find out what Monty has to say about all of this.  Apparently, Faldo texted Azinger after reading the original article with this little jab, "Zinger, I read this whole article and you don't like Monty more than me, do you?"

I'm not sure who will win the "mudder" award this season - The Big Break Ka'anapali or the Ryder Cup.  All I know is, I'll be following every minute of it -- aaaaand loving it!

Golfgal

www.golfgal-blog.com

Flaming golf ball from © Tom Schmucker | Dreamstime.com

Pretty in Pink - Prettier in Green

There is a cliche that I learned very early in my career and it proves itself to be true, over and over again my life.  "It's better to be remembered for something bad, than not to be remembed at all."  I was reminded of it again when I read the article below in The Guardian about Ian Poulter being "desperate to prove he is not just a major joke"

Do you like Ian Poulter?  Come on...tell the truth.  Don't you just love his outrageous style and boyish charm?  I do and so do all my women friends who follow golf, even when his pretty pink shoes are in his mouth.

If you check out his past and then look at what he's accomplished, you can appreciate his candor and confidence - his road was quite the uphill climb.  It also doesn't hurt that he's a cutie. :-)

You may recall that Ian "stepped in it" when he shared what he really thought in an interview with Golf World Magazine earlier this year.  In case you missed it, Ian say that when he reached his full potential ‘it will just be me and Tiger’.

Okay, so Ian made a mess of an interview.  Who really cares?  But I loved the picture that went with it - some men really can wear pink.

It's been a tough couple of months for Ian with all the teasing and negative press, but he's taking it like a man now.  As he confesses, he "did take it personally, but he won't let it affect him on the golf course". 

I won't quote all the stories about the teasing - they're all in the article.  But the one that first annoyed me, but now makes me laugh is the one about Tiger always grinning and saying, “Hi, No2” when he runs into Ian.  But Ian's no fool...his response?  "Hello No 1".  Smart Ian...very very smart.

It's all in good fun now, but Ian will always be remembered for this blunder.  It will be brought up again and again and again whenever the next young gun says something about the world's number one. 

Ian said, "I have had a lot of it from the lads — Westie [Westwood], Clarkie [Darren Clarke], Tiger — and that’s fine. If they had taken it personally they wouldn’t have said anything to me, they would just have given me the cold shoulder. The fact that they are having a laugh and a joke and taking the piss suggests to me that everything is fine.”

So, what about this weekend?  Does Poulter have a chance for the green jacket?  I think so.  He tied for 13th last year and he's playing pretty well these days.  He could be the dark horse. 

I am pretty sure he'll be in the top 10, if not the top 5.  In fact, I chose him in my fantasy golf games this week. 

Now... I'd prefer to see him in lime green with his pink shoes but hey...any green will do.  I'm sure he can coordinate something that works.

Golfgal
www.golfgal-blog.com

Photo of Ian on green by: © Isogood | Dreamstime.com

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Poulter desperate to prove he is not just a major joke
Lawrence Donegan Augusta
The Guardian
08 Apr 2008

Scenes from a golfing village, part one: Tiger Woods and Ian Poulter are hitting balls on a driving range in Tucson, Arizona, when along comes Lee Westwood and takes his place between them. “Oh, I’m so nervous,” says Westwood, who is almost as good at... read more...

Related:
How England’s young lions regard the Tiger
Verbal pariahs fail to back up trash talk

Tech Tags: The Guardian newspaper Sport

Pace of play only applies to amateur golfers (and the LPGA)

I was reading the March 2008 edition of Golf Digest this week and saw a little side story titled "Venting".  It shared the thoughts of some PGA players and their caddies on the biggest breaches of golf etiquette that amateurs make during Pro-Ams.

No surprise, the number one was the amateur moving while another player is hitting.  Hard to believe anyone who actually plays the game does that more than once.  Even at municipal courses, new players are given the evil eye if they try that. 

Anyway, the 2nd most unpopular practice was "slow pace of play".   According to Aqua-man Woody Austin, "Nothing tops pace of play. Amateurs refuse to pick up their ball or they take too long to make a decision."

I find it amusing to hear the pros talk about pace of place.  I guess they are oblivious to their own failings in that area.   I watch a lot of European Golf and it is rare that I don't see at least one group being "put on the clock".  However, I've never seen them actually penalized for slow play. 

The rules of golf are severely enforced by officials all the time in the PGA (even calls in from spectators can make an official go back and watch replays of a shot to see if a rule was broken.  They have no qualms about enforcing a rule long after the fact..  But pace of play is a joke in the PGA.

Last week's PODS Championship was a good example.  The winner, Sean O’Hair is a really nice guy, and his history with his estranged father gets him the sympathy vote, but on the course, he's the guy you want to report to the marshal.

I’m a regular reader of sports writer, Karl MacGinty of the Irish Independent.  And as he puts it, "This guy spends so much time agonizing over the most obvious options on the golf course, one wonders how he manages to get out of bed in the morning.  It probably takes a couple of calls to the tailor before deciding which trouser leg to pull on first."

O’Hair was put on the clock on Sunday in Florida, but it made little difference to his play. And no penalty ensued.  Why?  I expect the answer is something like, “How do you penalize a player who's in contention?”   And my response would be, “Oh, you don't know?  Easy...just watch the LPGA.  Angela Park was "awarded" two extra shots for slow play at the SPG in Hawaii, without warning.  And she was in contention - if they hadn't penalized her, she would have finished 2nd at worse.  Who knows, she may have actually won the tournament, but having to play 8 more holes knowing she was dinged really could have been the difference between winning and losing for her.

Back to the PGA...

JB Holmes is another example.  I love MacGinty's description of JB, " Holmes resembles a preying mantis painstakingly stalking its lunch as he goes through his staccato pre-shout routine."

Wood's website posted a plea for action against slow play a week after Tiger beat Holmes at the Accenture Match Play.  Coincidence?  I don't think so.

But even when the world's number one complains, the "entitled" Holmes could care less, "You’re playing for $1m. If someone thinks I’m slow or taking too long, I don’t care.”  Hey, maybe that's the difference between the PGA and LPGA.  The LPGA is only playing for $150K, while Holmes is chasing a million!  Oh, don't get me on that rant again!

Slow pace of play isn’t new.  Remember back in 2005 when hothead, Rory Sabbitini walked off the 17th green and headed to 18, because he was so angry at Ben Crane's painstakingly slow pace of play (Crane was still on the fairway!)? Sure Rory isn't my favorite sportsman, but it's hard to judge him too harshly on that move.  If I was playing with them, I'd probably have laid down on the grass for a nap at the 17th green to get my point across.

There are a lot of slow players in the PGA.  So I ask again, why doesn't the PGA do something about it like the LPGA?  Maybe it all comes down to "balls" and who has them.

Golfgal
www.golfgal-blog.com

Photos by: © Anita Patterson Peppers | Dreamstime.com

The Big Easy Speaks out about Autism

Not the typical logo you would find on a golf course, but this week Ernie Els, who won the Honda Classic after a 3 1/2 year drought, showed up at the PODS Championship with it on his golf bag. 

If I didn't love Ernie before, I sure do now.  Not only is he a wonderful golfer and a wonderful person, he's a wonderful dad and I know he'll make a wonderful spokesperson for Autism Speaks - just like Jerry Seinfeld, Bill Cosby and Jay Leno and NHL players Olaf Kolzig, Byron DaFoe and Scott Mellanby.

According to Autism Speaks website...Autism is a complex neurobiological disorder that typically lasts throughout a person's lifetime.  It impairs a person's ability to communicate and relate to others. It is also associated with rigid routines and repetitive behaviors, such as obsessively arranging objects or following very specific routines. Symptoms can range from very mild to quite severe.    Here are some facts most us probably never knew before:

- 1 in 150 children is diagnosed with autism

- 1 in 94 boys is on the autism spectrum

- 67 children are diagnosed per day

- A new case is diagnosed almost every 20 minutes

- More children will be diagnosed with autism this year than with AIDS, diabetes & cancer combined

- Autism is the fastest-growing serious developmental disability in the U.S.

- Autism costs the nation over $90 billion per year, a figure expected to double in the next decade

- Autism receives less than 5% of the research funding of many less prevalent childhood diseases

- Boys are four times more likely than girls to have autism

- There is no medical detection or cure for autism

Ernie's 5 year old son was diagnosed with autism quite a few years ago, but Ernie and his wife Leizl have coped with it privately and silently until now.  According to Ernie, his son is quite affected by it, but in the same breath, he said with love, "But he's a lovely boy."

A few years ago...hmmm...funny coincidence that Ernie's game struggled so much over the past few years.  I don't think so...

According to Els, "It's been a bit of a challenge. And it's a change of life, a change of priorities. You've got to be ready for it. And it's happening more often. I never knew about it, never thought about it, until it's in your lap."

Just like Tom Watson's life long fight to find a cure for Lou Gehrig's disease in memory of his caddie Bruce Edwards  who died from it in 2004, Ernie will spend a life time working to raise awareness and money and find a cure for what he calls an epidemic.

"We've been taking our time and trying to assess what we need to do, what we want to do," Els said. "We're doing a lot for Ben. But there are a lot of kids like him out there, and worse than him. We're in a fortunate position where money is not a real problem for our family. We can get Ben the right help. Some people are not in the same position. We'd like to raise money for the poor."

I once wrote down all the reasons I love golf, but I never put this on the list until now.   I love the game of golf because it gives so much to so many.  I love golfers for the same reason.

Golfgal

www.golfgal-blog.com

Ernie Els photo from © Isogood | Dreamstime.com

PGA's 3 Majors Cancelled due to "Woods Perfection Depression Syndrome"

Breaking news!  Cell phones off please and listen very carefully...

According to commentator Frank Deford of NPR.org, 3 of the PGA's 2008 major tournaments (Masters, the US Open and the PGA) have all been cancelled.  Yikes!  I shared this horror story with one man at work and look what happened ->

Yes, it's enough to make a grown man cry.  The whole office is in an uproar now...people can't work...they've all headed out to drown their sorrows on our water-infused links courses.

Billy Payne, chairman of Augusta National, spoke on behalf of the group representing the 3 events, saying it seemed pointless to play the tournaments because it was a foregone conclusion that Tiger Woods would win them all and continue to win them for “as far as the eye can see."

Listen to more of the story in this late breaking commentary here!

Well well..isn't that just amazing.  That one man could have such an affect on a sport.  They cancel tournaments because he's NOT in them and now they cancel tournaments because he IS in them.

Ha ha...I had to share this spoof of a story with you because it was so entertaining.   Reading it isn't nearly has much fun as listening to it, so please take a minute and give your full attention to Mr. Deford and remember to turn your cell phones off :)

Golfgal

www.golfgal-blog.com

Photos provided by: © Carl Durocher | Dreamstime.com © James Phelps | Dreamstime.com

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The majors are hereby cancelled
FRANK DEFORD
National Post
06 Mar 2008

This is a very important announcement. So, please, everybody, turn off your cellphones while you read this. No text messaging, either. Organizers of the three American Grand Slam golf tournaments — the Masters, the United States Open and the PGA —... read more...

Tech Tags: National Post newspaper Editorials

www.golfgal-blog.com

Lorena starts her year with a bang and a whimper?

If you were watching golf on TV this weekend like I was, you might have noticed a slight discrepancy in the TV coverage of the different tournaments.  While the Honda Classic and European Tours enjoyed 3 hours per day of coverage, the LPGA was only afford 1 hour a day by The Golf Channel.  1 hr...sigh...

But in those few minutes we were granted by the powers that be...we enjoyed a very exciting debut of the world number 1, Lorena Ochoa, at the HSBC Women's Champions.

It was amazing to watch her break away from the pack, but it was also exciting to watch Annika and Paula push hard to try and catch her.  Too bad that Suzann Petterson struggled all weekend - not breaking 70 across all 4 days.  But I'm not too concerned. She'll be back.

Meanwhile back to the pathetic inequality in golf - one of my favorite rants.  Women golfers being treated as second class citizens is not "news".  It's par for the course, as is a huge disparity in purses in the professional tours.  Let's take a look at 2008:

PGA Tour: US$300 million
LPGA Tour: US$60 million
Champions Tour (9 less events than the LPGA): US$55.2 million

With numbers like those, it's no wonder that the two best players in the world don't even come close in terms of winnings.

Sometimes it seems like the golf equality battle will never be won. Even Lorena said in an interview with the Sunday Times, "Sometimes you have to understand that's just the way it is and there's nothing we can do."  Nothing we can do???  Oh Lorena, I wish you hadn't said that.  Don't wimp out on us girlfriend!  We need you to drive progress and change in this sport. 

Yes, yes...it all comes down "Show me the money".    But did you know that the TV networks PAY PGA Tour to broadcast their events, the LPGA has to PAY the TV networks to get coverage.   I find that shocking.

LPGA commissioner Carolyn Bivens said the strive for parity is one of the LPGA's top priorities, "If we don't strive to be equal, then we're going to be under-achieving."   I'm glad to hear her say that.

We've seen "No dogs, no women" signs in UK clubs, and "white men only" clubs in the US.  These battles for gender and race equality are almost behind us, but we're still seeing appalling stories of discrimination.

But let's not role over and play dead on the greens!  Let's take a lesson from some of the great ladies of sport and see what their determination and drive has achieved for their sport. 

Almost 30 years ago, Billie Jean King went on a mission to gain support on equalizing the purses in tennis.    She was insulted and ridiculed for her efforts, but did you know that today, because of women like her, women's tennis achieved equal prize money in all four of their majors last year?

So there is hope.  The LPGA is the strongest its ever been in terms of talent and competition.  What we need now is for more women (and their supportive golfguys)  to speak out and drive equality forward at their home clubs, in the media, through blogs, Facebook and Yahoo groups, in golf magazines and on golf forums everywhere.   

Never give up...never surrender.  Let's make that the new motto of the LPGA.

Golfgal

www.golfgal-blog.com

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The Straits Times
02 Mar 2008