Wie Out in Even Par, One-Over Through 13

Well, it isn't as if she's tossing the tournament away in her first few holes.

A standard bogey on the first hole you can blame on nerves, Wie battled back from another stumble on the fifth hole with birdies on 6 and 9 to get back to even par. She has since bogeyed the par-3 12th to land in a tie for 77th, but has been fairly respectable so far considering all she's dealt with heading in.

If she can get around at even par for the day, she'd gain a little confidence and maybe be able to fire a number tomorrow to make the cut. If not, she'll be answering those nasty questions she should be used to by now.

You can keep up with the coverage on absolutely no channel because some networks are dumb.

John Daly is a Good Influence

You could list a thousand things that define John Daly and "role model" or "social drinker" would fine themselves on the list about the same time "male model" and "anorexic" did.

I guess getting drunk with John Daly sure is an intense way to be introduced to the bottle.

I actually have a girl friend of mine that had never drank until college. She came to college, I met her through a girl I was dating and we all headed to Rocky Point, Mexico for a weekend getaway. Her first shot she ever took in her entire life was Everclear. I figured if you did one of those to start, you'd never have something you couldn't take.

John Daly would be super proud of me right now.

[Via Deadspin]

Kenny Perry Might Not Be Great Against the Other Great Players

It's day one of the Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone and a few mini-story lines are unfolding.

South Africans are obviously a big fan of the course today. Retief Goosen shot a four-under 66 while fellow Bottom African Tim Clark shot a 67 and is tied in second place.

Chez Reavie showed today that last week wasn't just a fluke, posting a two-under 68, tied with Rocco Mediate, Phil Mickelson and a ton of other golfers.

The corpse of Vijay Singh shot a three-under 67 and everyone's favorite major misser, Kenny Perry, might be really good at winning random tour events, but is showing why missing the big tournaments might be sensible. Perry is four-over through 17 holes today and is currently tied for 72nd place out of just 80 golfers. I'm not a big math guy, but I don't think that is what you want.

Off To A Smashing Start

Michelle Wie made bogey on her first hole today. Watch out Lance Ten Broeck, she's coming for you.

Jeff Overton Is Making it an Uphill Climb for Wie

I'm sure at some point today we'll get to the Bridgestone Invitational, but it's Michelle Wie's world and we're just trying to make a couple of birdies in it.

Jeff Overton...excuse me, the Dominant Jeff Overton...fired a seven-under 65 to hold the lead in the clubhouse and nearly 40 golfers are under par so far in the Reno-Tahoe Open.

Good news for Wie though. She'd have to really struggle to finish in last place at this event. Some guy named Lance Ten Broeck (don't ask, I have no idea) posted a 16-over 88 that actually included back-to-back birdies at one point in the round. Wie would have to do something really stupid like not sign her scorecard or something to finish behind this guy.

Phil Mickelson Continues to Not Be Technical At All About Golf

My uncle has a pretty funny story about once seeing Phil Mickelson at a bar in Tempe during his college days passed out in the corner with his friends. This isn't to defame his image, everyone drank and passed out and probably peed in a bed or two during college (blushes).

The reason I'm bringing this up is because Mickelson actually won a PGA Tour event as a college student, the 1991 Northern Telecom Open. I just wonder how crazy he was about numbers those days or if he just went out and tried to hit it as close as possible on every hole.

All of this is raised because of what I just read about everyone's favorite Lefty (Except Canadians).

Phil Mickelson and his short-game guru, Dave Pelz, work with a software program that analyzes tour statistics and applies them to various top venues.

The Left-handed professor offered an example of the wonders revealed by the program — and closed with a pop quiz.

"If you increase any statistical category across the board, it lowers scores," Mickelson explained. "OK, 10 percent fewer putts, 10 percent more greens, 10 percent closer to the hole, 10 percent more fairways — every one lowers scores except longer driving distance."

Warming to the subject, he added, "There's one golf course in America where 10 percent longer driving equates to lower scores. What would you think it would be?"

After a pregnant pause, he smiled and said, "Augusta National."

How hard are the guys that created this software laughing to the bank? This hard?

What person with even a scosh of common sense couldn't figure out that 10 percent fewer putts would lower your score?

"Well Phil, here is your word problem. Chez Reavie plays 36 holes at Troon North. The first 18 he has 30 putts, the second 18 he has 28 putts. Based solely on the information given, which round would produce a lower score?"

Am I missing something?

Jimmy Walker and Scott Sterling Are the Lucky Dogs Paired With Wie

At 1:55 EST today, Michelle Wie will embark on her first PGA Tour event.

Oh, I'm hearing this isn't her first time doing this. Really? Oh, whatever.

Anyway, she's going to be paired with the illustrious Jimmy Walker and Scott Sterling. Never heard of 'em? Not sure they are even people?

Well, let's do a mini crash course on the two.

Jimmy Walker, the strapping 29-year-old Baylor graduate, has won three times on the Nationwide Tour and in his second full season on the PGA Tour, has made nine of 15 cuts. Met his wife at a Nationwide event where she was a volunteer for the tournament, strictly prohibited in the "Nationwide Tour volunteer handbook."

Scott Sterling was the original DJ for the hip hop group Boogie Down Productions. Ehh, wrong guy. Nope, Scott Sterling is a PGA Tour player that finished in a tie for 12th at the John Deere this year, and is an avid fan of Pearl Jam.

Sound like a couple of guys perfect for Wie. Also, something I find funny, neither guys are in the top 50 in driving distance, maybe something the Reno-Tahoe people are doing so they can have a highlight on "Sportscenter" of Wie out-driving two men. "Wow, did you see how far that girl can hit it, she's amaaaazing!"

Some Early Scores From the Women's British, Like You Care

It's a slow golf day, with only two PGA Tour tournaments beginning, so I thought it would be alright to just visit the Women's British for a moment.

Annika Sorenstam, who has no problem calling Michelle Wie out, fired a mediocre even-par 72 to land in a tie for 65th while dominant dog Lorena Ochoa is in the clubhouse at three-under 69.

48-year-old Julie Inkster turned that dang Rolex back a few years, leading in the clubhouse with a seven-under 65 that included five birdies and an eagle on the par-4 9th.

The Women's Open, like the regular Open Championship, is rich in history, dating back to almost 2001. Now that is prestige.

Ok, enough of this, back to regular stuff.

Michelle Wie Responds to LPGA Golfers Comments, Kinda

After Paula Creamer and Annika Sorenstam commented that they weren't so happy with Michelle Wie's decision to skip an LPGA major to play in a PGA Tour event, you'd expect Wie to comment.

You know, something like "those stupid chicks are just jealous of my bank roll." Or, "Yeah, tell Paula if she wants to borrow my Rolex, I'll let her, but just for a day."

But no, Wie stayed fairly civil and handled the remarks, well, remarkably well (see what I did there).

"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.

"All I'm thinking about is trying to play some good golf. How can I limit the number of bogeys I make? How can I maximize the number of birdies I can make out of this golf course and that's all I can focus on. I can't focus on the rest of the field," she said.

"People are going to write hateful stuff about me and that's fine with me. ... Good rounds and low scores can solve everything," she said.

I'd say that's about right. I think one of the best golf quotes I've heard in a long time is, sadly, from those Phil Mickelson commercials for whatever hotel he promotes. Bones, his caddy, says "whenever you want to break something, how about breaking par."

One of my favorite golf pictures ever taken was courtesy of Warren Little, Getty Images

So, I Guess Tiger Woods Isn't Winning at Firestone?

If Firestone ever goes under, the one bright side will be the opportunity to rename the course to Tiger Woods' Baby.

Woods has absolutely dominated the thing since the WGC-NEC started at Firestone. Since 1999, Tiger has won six of eight trips to the Akron, Ohio course, so it will be interesting picking someone other than El Tigre.

Here are a few to keep you eyes on.

Stewart Cink - Well, one of the years Tiger didn't win the trophy it went to Cink. Mr. Second Place actually broke through for a win at the Travelers Championship a month ago and even after a missed cut at the British, he'll contend if he keeps hitting greens at the rate he is this season (67.98%).

Padraig Harrington - Sure, he's never won at Firestone, but he's on fire coming in and even took a week off to relax after keeping the Claret Jug for another year. He finished t-14, t-27, and t-24 the last three years, so it isn't like he can't play the course. Also, I heard this year the British Open winner gets to start the tournament one-under before he even tees off, so that's a cool little bonus.

Phil Mickelson - He's never really done a ton at Firestone, but he's Phil Mickelson and always seems to win events you're not really expecting him to (on the other hand, he usually loses badly at the ones you're expecting a lot from him). I really only put him in because I just looked, and in 2006 he finished t-51 and made $40,250. Jesus, I know you randomly say things like, "oh yeah, that dude is a millionaire" but I can identify with that much money, so when you put it like, "oh, he finished 51st in a tournament and made 40 grand" it hits more to bank account. All of that is for this simple question -- how much money could you steal from Lefty before he'd even notice it. $5 million? $20 million? Amy?

Sean O'Hair - This kid is due. I'd watch out for him, he has a cool walk.

A Few Links

Hunter Mahan thinks the Ryder Cup is like slavery, which makes that old Chris Rock joke just that much funnier. [Deadspin]

Why Michelle Wie is still getting sponsors exemptions and how they plan to promote her this week at the Reno-Tahoe Open. [FanHouse]

The word "bling" hits golf about five years later. [Blingo Ballmarks]

Why is Chris DiMarco Playing in the Bridgestone?

You remember Chris DiMarco, right? He's the guy with the claw grip, the bad attitude and the near defeat of Tiger Woods in the 2005 Masters.

He was always one of those guys that people had in their "Major championship sleeper" columns up until he forgot how to play. Last year he finished 93rd on the FedEx Cup point list and this year he's 163rd, making just eight of 19 cuts thus far in '08.

So, why the hell is he included in the Bridgestone Invitational?

Apparently, being a part of the 2006 Ryder Cup team (a proud moment in American history) landed them the invite.

Not much better off is Chris DiMarco, who has made only eight cuts in 19 starts on the PGA Tour, has yet to qualify for a major this year and is now No. 207 in the world. Then there's Vaughn Taylor, who also has fallen on hard times after coping with allergies and vertigo last year that caused him to sink to No. 178.

All of them have the Ryder Cup to thank for their tee time this week. Six players from the 2006 team that got clobbered at The K Club in Ireland are no longer in the top 50 in the world, but they are eligible for this World Golf Championship.

That isn't fair, if DiMarco is in, Michelle Wie should be in. She was also great about the last time DiMarco was relevant. I'm starting a petition.

(Also, the bow tie, seriously? It looks like he stole that from an extra in Dick Tracey.)

Last Chance To Catch Annika Sorenstam At A Major

It appears when you've accomplished all that you can in your career, hanging up the spikes isn't a bad idea.

Annika Sorenstam, in her 15th season on tour, has decided that this week's Womens British Open will be her last hooray, and after the 37-year-old will ride off into the sunset as the best and most successful golfer ever of her gender.

She's won 10 majors, including the British in 2003, and said the main reason for the departure is to spend more time with her family. (Side note: what a loser...people play golf to get AWAY from their families...hasn't anyone told her this yet?)

“I want to start the next chapter in my life and we’ll see what happens,” she said. “If I get the urge, then I know I can come back.

I'm sure we'll see Annika again, but for now, this will be our last chance to catch her in a major championship. As much as I seem to dog women's sports, Sorenstam is one of my favorite people to watch play. Her swing is so repetitive it's disgusting and she is still confident with the putter at age 37.

Not to scare anyone, but Tiger is 32, and if he gets hot hotter over the next couple of years, he might be in a situation when he reaches 40 that this idea comes to his mind. Wait until he breaks Jack's record, and we could be seeing a whole different tour.

Paging Anthony Kim.

Hey Look, Phil Mickelson In Shorts

About the time the PGA Championship rolls around, people are slightly burned out with golf. They've had the ups of the Masters, the grind of the U.S. Open and the lust of the British to deal with and now this, a major championship that has damn club professionals in the field.

The best part is, usually we get a picture of Tiger Woods and/or Phil Mickelson in shorts, which always looks a little strange since we never see it.

Lefty was doing his usually dissection of the course, this year at Oakland Hills, which has been substantially lengthened since the 2004 Ryder Cup by 400 yards.

Anyway, this is just so I can show a picture of Mickelson's sexy legs. Ladies, if you want to reach him, you better get in line.

Photo courtesy of Carlos Osorio/AP

Jim Furyk Hates Your Newspapers

Jim Furyk made some fairly entertaining comments about his take on the media. If you have a minute, check out my article on FanHouse about it. Maybe you'll laugh, maybe you'll cry.

Would You Give Michelle Wie An Invite?

It's fairly insane that one of the bigger golf tournaments on the PGA Tour is having this week and Michelle Wie playing in the other PGA event is the big news.

With the Bridgestone Invitational going on at Firestone Country Club, all the big names trying to win should be the story. Unfortunately it isn't even close, as Wie continues to steal headlines as she tries to be the modern day Billie Jean King.

My question, would you give Wie an invitation if you were this tournament?

I'd have to say yes, it's the smart business decision. You're battling against a tournament with the likes of Phil Mickelson, Anthony Kim and Sergio Garcia. Before Wie, the biggest name in the field was Ryan Moore. If you can invite someone to get you this exposure, you'd have to do it.

My follow-up question is simple. When will this stop? When does the luster of Wie rub off? When do people stop caring about her doing this? Will she always be this anomaly or are people going to get tired of her as she continues to fall short?

Honestly, as much trash as I push her way, I sure hope she can find a way to succeed this week so the dance is finally finished. I believe if she could make a cut, prove to her critics that she can do it, she can close that book and move on to the LPGA full-time. That or she'll start talking about winning a PGA Tour event. I guess that's why companies make hard liquor.

Photo courtesy of Stuart Franklin, Getty

Michelle Wie Gets Yelled At By Other Girls

I'm sure it gets fairly annoying to have a girl that never does that well on your tour teeing it up with the boys, and most people can only keep their mouths shut for so long.

Annika Sorenstam and Paula Creamer both commented on Michelle Wie's decision to play in the Reno-Tahoe Open instead of the Women's British Open, and my story is over at the FanHouse.

Chris Berman Gets A Golf Test, Seems Annoying

Even though I'm not really in the "hate everybody that works for ESPN" camp, I do despise Chris Berman like I would a girl with a Venus Flytrap as a vagina.

My main reason is for his invasion into my peaceful world of golf, throwing around nicknames with the voice that sounds like someone trying to stick a fork down a garbage disposal. So, when I came across this amazing question and answer piece by Golf Digest, I was pretty annoyed. Please keep Berman out of anything I actually enjoy reading please. Thank you kindly.

Anyway, here are some of the eye-gougingly annoying best (sic) parts from the Q and A, with my commentary after each answer.

GD / Who’s The King? (A: Arnold Palmer.)

CB / Arnie, of course. I wasn’t around when he was The King, and The Golden Bear was long before me. But 15 years ago, we had Curtis “People Are” Strange, Bob “Curds and” Tway and Mark “Unplayable” Lye. The best golf nickname, which I couldn’t use when I heard his name pronounced correctly, was Jose Maria “Two Strokes” for Oh-lozz-a-ball.

DTCC / Really? That is your question, who is the King? If you work in sports and you don't know that the seven time major championship winner and 62 time winner on tour was named The King, you obviously blew a lot of bosses on your way up. People I think would not know he was named The King in major media -- Stuart Scott (he'd call him Da King), Joe Morgan and probably Skip Bayless (he'd know, he'd just refuse to refer to him as "King").

GD / What did Tiger and Elin Woods name their baby? (A: Sam Alexis Woods.)

CB / I missed it, but I’m thrilled for them. [Told Sam Alexis.] Sam Alexis, huh? S.A.W.? So, we have to nickname the baby already: “Buzz Saw.”

DTCC / This is pretty sad, but I guess I'll let it slide because he does so many sports. "Buzz Saw" could be the worst possibly nickname for an individual and pretty much cements the fact that Berman has never read Deadspin. God, I'd had to be this guys kid.

GD / Who’s the heaviest player to win a tour event in 2007? (A: Mark Calcavecchia, 225 pounds.)

CB / Are you talking Calc? Golfers come in all shapes and sizes. Everybody who sees me on TV thinks I’m a short fat guy, but I’m 6-4½. I’m a tall fat guy.

DTCC / A tall fat guy that is an asshole and yells at people for no real reason. I can honestly say I never thought Berman was this tall. Could you imagine sitting next to this guy on an airplane? With his enormously loud voice, his inability to call people regular names and his linebacker size would be nearly unbearable. I think I'd rather walk in golf spikes to my destination.

In News That Surprises Nobody, LPGA Might Lose Sponsors

As much as we all push for equal rights amongst all demographics, everyone has that logical portion of the brain that knows things like the LPGA and WNBA just don't make that much money (you could make the same argument about the CFL or minor league baseball).

Golfweek reported today that the LPGA might lose sponsors next season even as it seems the tour has boomed of late with all the young stars making waves.


The future of the Ginn Tribute, the SemGroup Championship and Fields Open appear in doubt. Such uncertainty follows on the heels of Safeway’s announcement earlier this year that it would drop its sponsorship of the Phoenix tour stop.

The most significant setback would be the loss of the Ginn event in Charleston, one of the most lucrative purses on tour; Ginn sponsors two LPGA events and each offers a $2.6 million purse. When the event was announced in 2006, LPGA Commissioner Carolyn Bivens touted it as an example of the LPGA’s bigger, better approach to business.

As I can report way too personally, SemGroup isn't going to be sponsoring anything in the near future.

I always root hard for the LPGA, and not just because I think Paula Creamer and Natalie Gulbis are hot. I think the tour offers a very rare situation (matched only with tennis) for both men and women to view sports that they can't do and that they are impressed with. Unlike the WNBA, it's golfers playing a course condition that you the average golfer would struggle with. You leave impressed, not questionable.

I'm sure more sponsors will step up, but a problem that has always plagued the LGPA seems to be resurfacing. Hey, at least the economy is doing really well!

I Hope This Gets You Pumped

These are some of Tiger's best shots of his career, up to the amazing chip-in on 16 at Augusta. The music mixed with some of his absolutely crazy swings makes for a great Tuesday morning.

My Take on All That is Greg Norman

I feel that most of the time Negative Nancy appears in my writing. I really never try to be a negative guy, but a lot of the things that appear in sports are mostly bad.

That is why I feel that Greg Norman, the last two weeks and now with his decision to pass on the PGA Championship, has been absolutely amazing for the sport. Just a month and a half ago we were scared that golf would absolutely disappear without Tiger Woods around, and even though ratings have obviously dropped, the story lines are still there if people take notice and care about them.

Golf continues to strive because the sport is great for everyone. Norman reminded us of that and for that he gets full respect from this blogger.

Some Links, Jinx

Jason Sobel outlines the best player to have never won a major, with the one and only El Nino at the top of his list. [ESPN]

More on Andrew Giuliani and his ongoing saga with Duke University. [FanHouse]

A hopeful assistant golf coach battles with cancer at Arizona State. [Golfweek]

Oh, and Gary Player had some things to say about Mickelson's boobs. [The Big Lead]

Hunter Mahan Talks About Tiger's Influence, the no-fun Ryder Cup and Girlfriends

Because I'm a blogger with no connections and no real influence in the golf world, most of my internal knowledge is from a second-party. This week, on Golf.com, they have an interview with Hunter Mahan. A couple of the better stuff below.

Q: Most of you guys still aren't household names. If Tiger pulled an Annika and decided to retire, the Tour would be in deep trouble, no?
A: Monumental trouble. The Tour would never admit it but they need Tiger way more than Tiger needs the Tour. It's tough — people don't know the younger players. If you ask most fans following a tournament to write down who they know, they'll write Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods.

So shouldn't the Tour do more to promote up-and-comers like you?
Personally I think they do a lot more for the international players. They try to get Camilo [Villegas] out there as much as any player I've ever seen, basically because while he's good-looking and young, he's also Colombian. He's Latin. They don't do the Americans many favors.

The Presidents Cup sounds like fun. Has the Ryder Cup become a chore?
Phil Mickelson and Tiger — their time is worth money. And for the PGA of America, the Ryder Cup is a moneymaker like no other. They don't have to pay anything. I think when [Mark] O'Meara said players should get paid for it or some of the money given to their charities, I think [he said that] because the PGA takes so much out of the event that the players don't really get anything. Is it an honor to play? Yes, it is. But their time is valuable. This is a business.

With the constant traveling, how does a guy like you find a girlfriend?
Truly it's difficult. It's not a big concern, though. It's the last thing I want to worry about. It's just going to happen. I'm very happy being single and doing whatever I want to do whenever I want to do it, and not have to ask permission to do anything. Golf is still No. 1 to me.

This is the main reason a big magazine would never hire me. I'd follow that last question up with, "But you're getting tons of ass, right?"

Phil Mickelson Reveals How He Got Un-Fat

When did Phil Mickelson become this hip?

First he's shooting an episode of "Entourage" (ok, hip in '03) and now he's revealing his workout secrets in Men's Vogue?

I promise, the article gets better than the first line, which was obviously written by someone that has zero clue about anything golf, so she made the always hilarious "funny pants" joke to start.

In most professional sports, a paunch squeezed into tacky pants does not an athlete make. But such is the charm of golf.

Anyway, the article says that Mickelson is eating small portions five times a day, doing some hilarious looking lunges and carries his bag to shed weight! Wow!

This is why I never understand these fitness articles. How much fun is it to read about what someone does to lose weight? It's like reading an article about someone sleeping.

Did You Know John Daly Sells Wine?

It's a slow Monday in the wonderful world of golf, and I was tooling around on the web, I came across this tidbit -- John Daly sells wine.

There really are too many cheap jokes to be made on this, but honestly, when is the last time Daly sat down for a nice bottle of Shiraz?

Maybe my favorite part of the Daly wine is it's affordable -- $11 a bottle. Payment for damaged hotel room after consuming 10 bottles -- priceless.

If John Daly can sell wine, I honestly think I can be a movie star. Producers and directors, my email is in the top right of this page. I do an amazing Stuart Little.

Greg Norman Cleaned Up Early Round Throw-Up from Self, Finished Top Five at Senior British

Greg Norman might have started out like the pre-Royal Birkdale Norman we were used to, but he sure finished like he was a 53-year-old just hitting his prime.

At the Senior British Open, Norman carded a first round 75 and followed that up with a sloppy 72, but weekend rounds of 67-68 at Royal Troon had the Shark finish in a tie for fifth place, his second straight top-five. Norman will have to keep his hot streak up at the Women's British Open next week to have a chance at completing the trifecta.

Norman spoke after the round about how much fun it was competing for two weeks straight in the major championships.

"I enjoyed (the two weeks) on a scale of 1 to 10, a 10," Norman said.

"I enjoyed every step, loved it. From a scoring perspective, I haven't enjoyed that. I've played a lot better than what my scores indicated and just didn't work out."

As I've noted, Norman did not choke at the Open, he just finally ran into a guy (Padraig Harrington) that wasn't going to get beat. This week, he struggled early after probably more golf pressure and media attention than he's had in ten years, only to find his game again and close strong.

I might not speak for everyone when I say it would be smart for Norman to skip the PGA Championship invitation and just ride out in the sunset at a pretty unexpected high point in his career, but if he does play, I hope his game holds up for two more weeks.

Parties are always more fun with that random old guy walking around, hitting on girls that are partly amused, party creeped out.

Chez Reavie Wins the Canadian Open in First Year on Tour

Sure, it isn't the U.S. Open or British Open, but the Canadian Open is a PGA Tour event and it is the biggest tournament our northern brothers host.

Chez Reavie, in his first full season on the PGA Tour, won in convincing fashion, hitting golf shots coming down the stretch in such calm fashion you would think it was a Tuesday practice round.

A solid birdie putt on the 18th hole had the Dobson Ranch creation take the title by three shots after a final round 70 that had four birdies, three bogeys and never a doubt as everyone giving chase seemed to fade away.

Anytime you can actually watch someone's life change in front of your eyes, it's special and after his third shot found the green on the 18th, the close-up of Reavie showed a man realizing that his bank account will never be a problem and he'll have a job for at least the next two years.

For mini tour golfers everywhere, Reavie is the reason you're tossing the clubs in the trunk and heading to the range for an afternoon session.

Photo courtesy of Robert Laberge, Getty Images

What is Kim Thinking?

If you're not watching the Canadian Open right now, you're missing out, because leader Chez Reavie is hitting fairways, greens, and making pars to secure his lead and Anthony Kim is BOMBING drives down the middle of the fairway and hitting his short irons like Alan Shepard.

For some reason, and it might be nerves or something, but Kim can't hit anything close to the hole. For some reason, he decided to hit 6-iron from 160 yards on 17, yanking in badly and putting himself in position for a tough par. It's pretty crazy that he, one of the longest hitters in the field, would hit such a big club from such a short distance after playing risky and hitting driver off the tee.

I don't know, maybe he got it confused with a 9-iron? That's my only explanation.

This Anthony Kim Kid Is Up To It Again

In both victories Anthony Kim has smoked home this year, he's had that one round that most need to get over the hump.

At the Wachovia Championship in May, Kim shot a third round 66. A month later, he won the AT&T National with a final round 65. Today, chasing a ton of guys in front of him at the Canadian Open, the Mercury-melting Kim fired a seven-under 64 to jump to a tie for the lead and possibly a chance at the Player of the Year award.

The 23-year-old Kim has had some pretty interesting rounds this week, opening with a pretty factory 65 and following that up with a two-under 69 that included two eagles, one double-bogey, three bogeys and three birdies.

He's becoming the favorite every week when he tees it up, not missing a cut since early April and finishing in the top-10 in his first ever British Open. If he wins this, that will be three for the year and his cockiness will be refreshing for the American Ryder Cup team.

Could you imagine if Tiger Woods was healthy and they paired him with Kim against the European Team? It would be like the year Tiger played with Phil Mickelson, only a lot cooler and probably successful. Hey, there'd be a lot less awkward white-ness in the group, that's for sure.

That Skinny Kid From the British Open Is Turning Pro

During all the hullabaloo that was Greg Norman at the British Open, an amateur named Chris Wood was doing his best Justin Rose impersonation, finishing in a tie for fifth place at the Open.

Just 20-years-old, Wood, like that guy with a similar last name, decided to forgo his amateur status and turn professional even though he said he wasn't going to do that.

British Open silver medal winner Chris Wood has decided to turn professional, less than a week after saying he had no plans to leave the amateur game.

The 20-year-old Englishman finished tied for fifth in the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, and then announced he was taking a week off to rest up for the English Amateur Championship at Woodhall Spa.

However, after several meetings with management companies in the aftermath of his Birkdale success, Wood has withdrawn from his national championship to prepare for life as a tour pro.

Checking out more info on Wood, it appears the guy is a great player. According to his Wikipedia page, he was a single digit handicapper at the age of 12.

Believe what you want, but my Wikipedia page says I'm 6'5", won the Masters at the age of 15 and am currently dating both Jessica Alba and Megan Fox. I love that about Wikipedia, you can really say anything you want.

The Dobson Ranch Crew Is Probably Glued to Their Televisions

As the Canadian Open rolls on, one young golfer is dominating Glen Abbey Golf Club.

Chez Reavie, Arizona State alumni and Mesa, AZ badass, is leading for the first time on the PGA Tour after rounds of 65-64.

Reavie is best known for winning the 2001 U.S. Amateur Public Links, landing an exemption into the Masters, and graduated to the big boys tour after an 18th place finish on the Nationwide Tour money list last season.

He's trying to claim this first victory with the likes of Sean O'Hair, Mike Weir and Anthony Kim chasing him, arguably the hottest golfer on tour.

If you've never played Dobson Ranch, the place Reavie grew up on, you're missing out. It's a great municipal track and the bar is always packed of those characters Rick Reilly writes about in his golf novel. Good stuff.

Why Russians Don't Play Golf

I've never been to Russia. Not a huge fan of long flights, weird letters like Ж or red things. The small amount of things I do know about Russia is it isn't producing the new Tiger Woods anytime soon.

At the European Tour's Russian Open, exactly zero Russians made the cut and of the nine Vodka lovers in the field, four finished dead last.

The caboose of them all? Alexey Kovalev fired a first round 99 (Barkley, watch out!) and followed that up with a cool 85 to finish at a perfect 40-over par.

I know nothing about Kovalev, so for all we know, he's a 13-year-old amateur that was happy to just be in the field. The point is, as always, don't go betting big money on a Russian to make a five-footer on the last to win the Nassau. That was actually the 11th Commandment.

Greg Norman Continues to Struggle on His Comeback Tour

Through 13 holes today at the Senior British Open, it looks like the Greg Norman comeback tour has as much chance of making it as a Mitch Hedberg resurgence.

The Shark, after a masterful performance at the Open, has struggled at Royal Troon, sitting at eight-over for the tournament and sitting 11 shots back of current leader John Cook.

Maybe this is the best thing to happen to Norman. No need for an encore performance, decline the PGA Championship invitation and go have some fun with the new wife.

No reason to get yourself all worked up for nothing, especially when you've got as much money as Greg.

We've enjoyed it Mr. Norman, thanks for coming back on stage for at least one song.

John Daly Broke Par Today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In news that is news because it's news, John Daly broke par today at the Russian Open, a tournament that for some reason makes me think of "The Saint" more than it does golf.

Daly is five shots back of Swede Joakim Backstrom, who actually recorded the rare albatross (or double-eagle) on the 561-yard par-5 15th.

"It was a four iron from 233 yards," Backstrom said after two bogeys and four more birdies completed a round of 65, seven under par.

Big John finished in a tie for last place at the Open Championship, so anything around par these days is pretty good.

The always entertaining Ryan Wilson has a report on Daly's "injured" hand and how he's risking it all to win the what tour is this even on? prestigious Russian Open.

I had a buddy of mine get tipped in Russian rubles once while caddying over at St. Andrews, and let me tell you, they sound a lot more expensive than they really are.

I'm Going out on a Limb Here and Saying He's Probably the Hometown Favorite

We as Americans just can't really grasp how important it is for our countrymen to win things. The reason being we have so many good athletes and sports teams that other than soccer, we're the sports mecca. People want to play on the PGA Tour, in the MLB or the NFL and definitely the NBA. We get the best because we host the best, and mostly because we produce the best. It taints our view on nationalism in sports.

That is why it's refreshing and exciting to see guys like Mike Weir, a full-blood Canadian, tied for the lead at the Canadian Open, an event he has never won (However, his first PGA Tour victory was the Air Canadian Championship, in 1999).

Weir is golf to Canada. He has made the game popular and with his Masters victory in 2003, put our northern neighbors on the map.

I hate to keep saying this, but it seems every week a new story unfolds to make us forget how much golf sucks without Tiger around. If Lefty could duel someone like Sergio or Vijay at the PGA Championship and the Ryder Cup could be somewhat competitive, I'd consider the second half of 2008 as good, if not better, than the last few years on tour.

Anthony Kim Is Becoming Really Good

It was just over a month ago that I wrote, after it was announced Tiger Woods would be vacationing early, that the young guns needed to step up to keep the PGA Tour afloat until our man returns.

It appears Anthony Kim is a huge fan of my work.

At just 23-years-old, Kim has won twice on tour and after contending for a time at his first British Open, our American hero is tied for the lead at the Canadian Open through 16 holes.

With his name at the tops of leaderboards week in and week out, he's reminding us of that guy we miss. He's brash, he's cocky, but goddammit, he can play.

Our Ryder Cup team might just have the two hottest players in the world on it, and neither will be named Phil.

Rudy Giuliani's Son Sues Duke For Kicking Him Off The Team

Check Out My Story At FanHouse.

If I could, I probably would have used the word "douche" in it at some point, but they slap wrists for that stuff.

A Few Morning Links

Greg Norman isn't exactly as sharp as a week ago, shoots four-over 75 in the first round at the Senior British to land in a tie for 71st. Fanhouse

An exceptional piece about the Michelle Wie fiasco by Rex Hoggard. Golfweek

What's better, winning 123 bottles of wine for making a hole-in-one on the Postage Stamp (measuring 123 yards) or trying to find a way to get all those back to the States? Golf.com

If You Can Wrap Your Head Around It, Golf Ratings are down Without Tiger

In news that wouldn't even make a coked out chimpanzee raise an eyebrow, golf ratings are down without Tiger Woods in the field.

I know, it's like hearing your parents really adopted you.

Because I'm not very good with the whole "numbers" thing, I'll just let the story explain.


Case 1: Buick Open. The first event of three events so far that Woods would have played but missed because of his knee surgery. The overnight rating on CBS for the fourth round was down 12%, from a 1.7 to a 1.5.

Case 2: AT&T National. Worse. The overnight ratings for the fourth round on CBS were down 48%, from a 2.9 to a 1.5. Third-round ratings dipped 35%, from a 2.0 to a 1.3.

Case 3: British Open. Not good. The overnight ratings for ABC's final round coverage Sunday fell 14.6%, from a 4.1 to a 3.5.

Ok, so all of these are down a percentage because Tiger didn't play? Got it. Next story please...

Colt Knost Laughs At All Of You

If you're not familiar with the above name, remember it, because he's going to be on the PGA Tour next year as a 23-year-old hungry to dominate.

Knost was the kid that told the Augusta suits "Thanks but no thanks" this year with his Masters exemption because he wanted to turn pro. Knost had the exemption for winning the U.S. Pub-Links and U.S. Amateur in the same, and people thought he was crazier than an ex-girlfriend after four drinks.

Why am I telling you all of this? Well, Colt won his second Nationwide Tour tournament this past weekend to secure his PGA Tour card for next season and had this to say about it all.

"It seems like I've always been doubted,'' he said. "I'm not the most athletic-looking person. But people should never judge a book by its cover. I know how good I can be.''

Well, I'd agree with all statements. He doesn't fit the mold of today's athletic looking golfer, but man can the dude play. He shot 26-under-par last week, which I guess is fairly decent.

Anyway, all the critics that thought he was a moron don't look so stellar now. The kid will be playing the big boys tour next season and it he keeps this up, we might just see him turning around Amen Corner before you know it.

Davis Love III Whins About Your Whining

You have to respect guys that do what Davis Love III did.

19 PGA Tour wins including a major championship, Love went through qualifying to get into the field for the British Open, an admirable thing to do.

So, according to our boy, if you're planning on complaining about playing in the oldest major championship and most recognized golf tournament in the world, umm, don't.

What bothers Love more are the players that do fly across the Atlantic and start complaining. He didn't mention names, but Pat Perez would have been a candidate for saying the rain and wind in the first round didn't feel like golf.

"Just don't come," Love said. "If you're going to have a bad attitude on Thursday before you tee off because it's raining, then don't come, because you're just wasting your time. It's going to be bad, eventually, one way or another."

I couldn't agree more with Mr. Love. A buddy of mine told me the other day that the "Open isn't even golf" because of the weather and such, but I think that's what makes it so amazing. Not only are you dealing with your nerves, the pressure of a major championship and the toughest field in golf, but at the drop of a hat the weather could turn and the course is totally different.

Also, there is black pudding, and who doesn't love them some black pudding?

Quote of the Day

"Everybody knows Phil as a golfer," Amy Mickelson said. "But I think there's an astronaut trapped inside his body."

Well, GET HIM OUTTA THERE!!!

(Seriously, it's worth reading the story if you dislike Mickelson because he's actually doing some good stuff in front of Congress and there is a picture of Amy.)

The 50 Hottest LPGA Golfers and No Mention Of Annika?

It's Wednesday, and all we have is baseball, WNBA fights and a whole bunch of Olympic coverage that you don't care about.

I think it's a perfect time to throw up the Sports Crunch's take on the 50 hottest LPGA golfers of all time.

I seriously can't figure out if I'm attracted to Paula Creamer or not, but I guess if all you have is Captain Crunch in the pantry, it's what you eat for breakfast.

Some Beautiful LPGA Girl Answered Questions

You know the difference in women that aren't great professional athletes and guys that aren't professional athletes? If you're a bad chick at the sport, you can still be famous if you're hot.

Anna Rawson is falling gently in that mold, making just two of nine cuts on the LPGA this season. It doesn't matter though because she's smoking and can just model if she sucks. Oh wait, she already models? Awesome.,

In an interview today with oobgolf, Rawson was asked a question concerning both.


oob: For what it would mean to your career and everything else would you rather be on the SI swimsuit cover or win an LPGA event?
Rawson: Win an LPGA event for sure. The swimsuit cover would be nice too. To even be in the SI swimsuit edition would be fun because it's the only really legitimate swimsuit modeling you can do without being criticized.

Winning the Masters of being an extra in a porn? Shit, you can have that green jacket.

With Leather

Needs to Improve -- Long Game over Short

If you're out grinding on the putting green for hours while those range balls sit lonely on that green mat, you might be doing something wrong.

According to a study by Columbia University professor Mark Broadie, the biggest difference in a low-handicapper and high-handicapper is all the shots leading to 100-yards and in.

It is the long game that proves to be the biggest factor when examining the difference in scores between pros and amateurs and even between low- and high-handicap amateurs. If, for example, a PGA Tour player were available to hit shots for an amateur from 100 yards and in, or available to hit all the shots leading to the 100-yard mark, Broadie says the amateur would benefit the most from having the PGA player hit the long shots, not the short ones.

It is often said that 60 to 65 percent of all shots are struck within 100 yards of the hole. Broadie agreed but noted that if you take out “gimme” putts of two and a half feet, the statistic has less meaning. Remove very short putts that are rarely missed, and shots from 100 yards or less account for only 45 to 50 percent of all shots. Eliminate putts from three and a half feet or less, and the figure drops to 41 to 47 percent.

I actually agree with this completely. I've always thought the golf cliche "drive for show and putt or dough" is the dumbest thing a golfer can think. Sure, you can still make a high number after a big drive but you have zero chance of saving a high score if you snap a ball out of bounds off the tee. Putting the ball in play from long distances is one of the things golfers struggle with the most, so for something like this, I couldn't agree more.

Anyway, check out that New York Times article, because it's extremely thorough and doesn't use "shit" and "damn" and stuff so you know it's solid stuff.

Wie Talks About Playing on the PGA Tour

As you well know, Michelle Wie is going to play in her eighth PGA Tour event next week at the Reno-Tahoe Open. Wie has played in seven LPGA events this year, making the cut in just four of them, and if that doesn't scream "time to play against men" I don't know what does.

What did Wie have to say about her "opportunity?"

“It's not every day that a woman is given the opportunity to play on the greatest tour in the world,” Wie said in a statement. “This is a tremendous opportunity for me to learn from these great players and take those lessons to the LPGA. This is another step in the process of making me a better player.”

Lessons like, for instance, remember to sign your scorecard? That is actually something you can pull from the PGA Tour guys because they usually do that. Other things they do -- rake the bunker after being in it, mark their ball when it's on the green and pee on trees.

Also, "it's not every day..." is pretty much a false statement since she's played in eight and can play in many more whenever she wants. What 'isn't every day" is actually playing well and giving yourself a chance.

Honestly, can someone give Lorena Ochoa a sponsors exemption and get it over with? She's actually good at this whole golf thing.

The Skins Game Field Will Be Better Than Last Year

You remember the Skins Game, right? It's that goofy 18-hole event around Thanksgiving that gives golfers a chance to win holes for lots of dough.

The fields used to be amazing. Names like Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino, Greg Norman and Fred Couples have snagged the most skins over the 25 years of the event and it was always a fun thing to watch.

Well, until last year, when the field consisted of Stephen Ames, Fred Couples, Zach Johnson and Brett Wetterich. I know, even reading those names gets the heart a-pumping.

I guess the LG Skins Game people decided that having a foreign guy most people don't know of, a washed up former champion, the Masters champion that's most exciting feature is his occasional pink shirt and Brett Wetterich wasn't exactly stealing ratings from football.

They've decided on four people that aren't exactly Snoozaplosa. Rocco Mediate, Phil Mickelson, defending champion Ames (ok, not perfect) and possibly Anthony Kim will be around for this year's event.

Hey, anything is better than watching Fred Funk smash the ball out there 260.

Oh Yeah, How Did Kenny Perry Do?

In all the hullabaloo this week with Greg Norman and Michelle Wie and Padraig Harrington, the fact that Kenny Perry played in the JV PGA Tour tournament was almost dismissed.

So, how did our Player of the Year candidate do at the Greater Milwaukee Open?

Pretty well actually.

Perry fired a final round 64 to jump in a tie for 6th and earn $125,000. If Perry had crossed the ocean for the Open, he would have had to finish in a tie for 7th place with nine other players to earn more than that.

I guess you could say it was a success for Perry. He earned another top-10, kept his momentum going and earned a few more Ryder Cup points. I'm sure a t-6 at the GMO isn't worth a private jet to Vegas, but it was something. All in all, pretty solid decision from Kenny.

Winners and Losers From Open Week

You knew it was coming, the winners and losers edition of the Open. Check it out, comment on it, call me ugly, it's all fun and birdies over here.

Michelle Wie Will Play (Again) on the PGA Tour

I like women a lot*. I think they're great for our world and do amazing things*. Hillary Clinton*! Martha Burke*! My mom.

What I am not a fan of is playing sports against girls. No, it isn't because I'm scared they will beat me, I pride myself in being decently athletic (for a blogger) and feel I can play stupid bar games like pool and darts as good as the next woman.

The reason is because they might not win 49 out of 50 times, but the time they do, they talk about it like they cured cancer or figured out how Nickelback is famous.

I'm all for Michelle Wie trying to qualify for these PGA Tour events if she has a chance. Annika Sorenstam at Colonial? I was thrilled. Michelle Wie when she used to be good, at the Sony? All for it, I'll even watch. Suzy Whaley when she qualified for the Great Hartford Open? She earned it.

I just think when your time has passed, you get out of line. Wie has never qualified for a PGA Tour event and with her recent play on the LPGA Tour, she probably needs to focus on succeeding there. If she keeps doing this, she is going to eventually make a cut with the men because she's pretty good and will catch fire one weekend. It will be a monumental moment and will overshadow all the failure she's endured with the dudes.

Personally, I would rather see the first lady to qualify for a men's event be someone that doesn't try three times a year. I think that would make it more special. I think that would be worth talking about.

* = possible sarcasm

Lets Get This Straight, Greg Norman Did Not Choke

As I was getting all my stuff together for the Colorado Open qualifier I'm playing in tomorrow, the ABC affiliate in Denver had their sports guy on, talking about the British Open.

The man was your typical local sportscaster -- smug, spiked hair even though he's in his mid to late 30s and a negative outlook on sports because he secretly hates them now since they've taken over his life.

He introduced his British Open "coverage" with a rant (and an accompanying graphic) about Greg Norman "choking" away the tournament in typical Norman fashion.

I stopped ironing my shirt and just stared at the screen. Is this guy really so clueless about golf he compares Norman at the 2008 Open Championship to the Shark at Augusta in 1996?

The man is 53-years-old and admitted he's been playing more tennis than golf of late. He played in the British Open because he's allowed to and because he's won the thing twice, a respect that is shown by true champions. For some unknown reason, Norman found his game at Royal Birkdale, shooting twin 70s on Thursday and Friday and following that up with a two-over 72 on Saturday in weather that would have sunk the Santa Maria.

His play was exactly the reason golf is the best sport in the world. Dads that remember Norman being the dominant force he once was had the rare opportunity to have their kids in front of a television as the Shark produced that swing that has always been a pleasure to watch. I'm 24, and my first golf memory of watching the sport with my dad was the Masters in 1996. I remember seeing the disappointment and only a 6th grader at the time, I had my first true encounter with how cruel golf can be. We had a living legend, Tiger before Tiger was Tiger, playing golf that was more 1988 than 2008, and just because he didn't win doesn't give anyone the right to call him a choke artist.

It was the type of story that made golf enthusiasts, for a split second, forget about all this Tiger Woods business. We all got to sit back and watch in hopes of a miracle, even if we weren't totally convinced it was going to happen.

Nobody, and I mean nobody, was going to take that Claret Jug away from Padraig Harrington. Let's all just be happy we got to see Norman do his thing one more time.

Photo courtesy of ADRIAN DENNIS, AFP

Padraig Harrington, Your 2008 British Open Champion

For the second consecutive year, Padraig Harrington will be taking the Claret Jug home to Ireland with him.

In winds that never seemed to stop blowing all week, Harrington navigated around the links better than anyone, punctuated with a "Did you See That?" shot on the 17th hole to set up an eagle and push himself into an entire different category of major championship winners.

Congrats Padraig, I hope you come out next year at Turnberry and do it all over again.

Photo courtesy of Glyn Kirk, AFP

Padraig Harrington Hits Shot of His Life

If you didn't just see that, I'm sorry for your loss.

Padraig Harrington just hit a second shot on the par-5 17th to four feet for eagle, pretty much wrapping up his second consecutive Claret Jug at Royal Birkdale.

That shot will be on highlights for years to come. Absolutely astonishing golf shot at the absolute perfect time.

Sorry Ian Poulter, maybe next year.

Photo courtesy of Adrian Dennis, AFP

Ian Poulter With Putt of the Year After Three-Putt of the Year

If you didn't catch Ian Poulter's par saving putt on 18, you missed out on a great example of why golf is one of the best sports alive.

Needing a 12-footer to save his par and post seven-over, Poulter rose to the occasion and smashed it in the back of the cup, fist-pumping with a Tiger-like enthusiasm.

A three-putt par on the 17th looked to be the end of him but he saved his par on the 18th hole and is now in the clubhouse rooting for Padraig Harrington to make some bogeys.

He's going to need some help, as Harrington leads by two and has a birdie putt on the 16th hole and the par-5 17th coming up.

Photo courtesy of Richard Heathcote, Getty Images

Ian Poulter Might Just Win This Crazy Thing

I sure have dropped a ton of dirt on Ian Poulter after his comments about "him and Tiger Woods" if he improves his game, but this sure could go a long way to improving my attitude about the guy.

A Grand Canyon-size putt on 16 for birdie has Poulter in the lead at the British Open and a piped drive on the par-5 17th hole has him eying another birdie to move two shots up on the field.

If you're bored at home, check out the live blog over at FanHouse. It's fun.

Photo courtesy of Stuart Franklin, Getty Images

Does Pink Do It?

Same name, will the same color bring Poulter his first Claret Jug?

Bogeys Aren't A Terrible score at the Open

At this point, with the leaders making the turn, pars are excellent and bogeys aren't that bad.

Greg Norman went out in four-over while Padraig Harrington did the same in three-over, which really isn't a bad front nine considering the elements.

If you're doing nothing but watching golf, swing over to the live blog at the FanHouse and enjoy the commentary.

It's British Open Sunday baby!

Photo courtesy of ADRIAN DENNIS, AFP

Greg Norman, Just Go Do This

I'm sorry, it's 2:06 AM in Denver, Colorado and all I can think about is this British Open.

Can Greg Norman do this? Honestly, nobody knows, but I promise you that one guy will be rooting as hard as ever.

Greg, you're doing such a good job right now, keep it up and we're all gonna be cheering hard. You're that guy that everyone seems to enjoy, keep it up. Just one more day.....

Photo courtesy of ADRIAN DENNIS, AFP

In Case You Didn't Hear About Michelle Wie...

It isn't worth talking about, because it's so ridiculous, but just read about it. What do you think?

Greg Norman, Your 54-Hole Leader

I wouldn't have guessed in a million years that when I started blogging about golf, I'd have the opportunity to write about "the Tiger Woods before Tiger was Tiger."

Greg Norman, a young 53-years-old, is leading the British Open in a storyline that could have only been jotted down by a kooky screenplay writer.

His play has been impressive, only if the word impressive could be magnified 50 times over.

If he continues this and wins, it will be the best story that golf has seen since Jack Nicklaus at the 1986 Masters.

If you're a father with a child that enjoys slapping the golf ball around the living room, wake the kiddo up tomorrow and watch this tournament with him. It is a rare chance for people to see a legend on the links revived and ready to win.

Greg Norman, keep it rolling man. You're making it exciting for all of us again.

The Shark, it appears, is around for one more good hunt.

Photo courtesy of ADRIAN DENNIS, AFP

Can Greg Norman Really Win This Thing?

Old people aren't supposed to be good at sports.

They hurt in places they didn't used to, they have bad memories from past experiences and they're....old.

Greg Norman, 53, fits all of those characteristics. He's struggled to finish major championships in the past, being coined a "choker" by most during the peak of his game.

All of that will be erased if he can continue doing what nobody would have ever expected. Norman just erupted through a drive on the par-5 17th hole and is in perfect position to card another birdie and move one shot closer to his third Claret Jug.

It wouldn't just be a good story, it would be actually watching someone completely recreate their life.

Keep it up Greg, we're all pulling for ya.

Photo courtesy of David Cannon, Getty Images

What Did the Notables Do?

While we continue to watch the best in the world struggle on the Royal Birkdale links like Charles Barkley, it is worth seeing what some of the big names shot today in the winds.

Justin Rose - 82
Lee Westwood - 78
Jean Van de Velde - 80
David Duval - Currently 12-over today
Phil Mickelson - 76
Ernie Els - 74
Adam Scott - 77

Not a single person has broke par today and it doesn't look like anyone will, with most of the golfers still on the course a few over par.

When it's so windy that flying a kite might be hazardous, you know it's going to be tough to score.

Photo courtesy of Richard Heathcote, Getty Images