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Archive for the ‘Major Articles’ Category
Sunday, January 31st, 2010
Ben Crane ended a five year drought on the PGA Tour with a win at the Farmer’s Insurance Open. Crane was able to hold off Marc Leishman by one stroke. Many of you may remember Leishman from his fantastic run in last year’s FEDEX Cup playoff which secured his tour card for the 2010 season. While Crane won the tournament the biggest news of the week was regarding the wedges of one Mr. Phil Mickelson. Phil decided to use wedges from Ping that are older than many of the players on the Tour this season. In a complicated loophole in the rules; a lawsuit filed against the USGA by Ping allows their Eye 2 wedges, produced in the more than twenty years ago, to be exempt from the 2010 groove restrictions.
Many people have their opinions and they range from declaring him an outright cheater, to others who believe he is doing nothing wrong. While this debate can go on forever the fact is that he is not breaking any rules according to the USGA. Other players and fans may not agree, but the bottom line is he can play them all year if he chooses. I don’t believe the groove rule should have ever been enacted so I applaud him for shoving it back in the face of the USGA, an organization that seems to make it as difficult as possible to play by the rules. Having said that it his decisions may show some poor taste given the current state of affairs on the PGA Tour. Without Tiger in the picture it seems as though the PGA may have a rough year.
I am in no way condoning what Tiger Wood’s did in his personal life. However, it does remain his personal life and it should not detract from the fact the he is the greatest golfer to ever live. He lives a life that few others have to live and clearly did not handle his personal life as many expected him to. He has let down millions of fans, sponsors and more importantly his family. It is now time to move on. The fact is the PGA Tour needs Tiger Woods to thrive. He has given golf the excitement that kept it from being considered a mainstream, or cool, sport for so many years. Tiger needs to come back so Phil can have someone to take the heat off his wedge situation.
While many have speculated that he may not return in 2010 I have to disagree. Whenever he comes back he will face the backlash for months or years to come so he might as well get it over with. I just can’t picture Woods missing a Master’s in April. So until he makes his return we will continue to talk about Phil’s wedges look for a newcomer to make a rise to the top.
Posted in FEDEX Cup, Golf Equipment, Golf Rules, Major Articles, PGA TOUR, San Diego Golf Courses | 1 Comment »
Tuesday, November 10th, 2009
For the first time in years there are questions as to who is the world’s best golfer. Tiger Woods had a great season yet still everyone seems to be talking about Phil Mickelson. In a season cut short, with the illness of both his wife and mother, Phil has been dominating on Tour. With his win in the last big event of the year at the WGC HSBC Championship in China Phil seems to have sealed his place at the top of the golfing world.
Starting this summer with yet another second place finish at the U.S. Open Mickelson has played extremely well. With wins at the Tour Championship and the WGC a showdown with Tiger in 2010 seems inevitable. A late season putting tip from Dave Stockton seemed to give Phil the extra confidence to come through with two huge late season wins. The tip was very simple, go back to using a forward press. This means that Phil leans his hands towards the target so they are ahead of the ball. This is a tactic that Phil used to use but had tried other means in the past few years. The renewed confidence on the greens has made all the difference in the world and is setting up a great duel in the year to come.
Posted in Major Articles, PGA TOUR | No Comments »
Thursday, September 24th, 2009
One lucky golfer will get paid $2.5 million per round at this week’s Tour Championship at East Lake. The FEDEX Cup is up for grabs because of changes made and several top ranked golfers have a chance to win it all. Heavy rain and flooding have soaked the Atlanta area in the recent days and will certainly give an advantage to the long hitters. Players like Jim Furyk and Zach Johnson may struggle to keep up with Tiger, and it may provide an opportunity for underdog Dustin Johnson to contend.
After Tiger Woods dominated the last FEDEX Cup event everyone is looking at him to win the Tour Championship and seal yet another Player of the Year award. He will have to fight for the title however. This year has shown that other players are ready to step up and compete with the world number one. Rookie sensation Marc Leishman looks to continue his magical run after a tie for second and the BMW to get into this weeks field.Padraig Harrington can still win the cup even though he has not won up to this point in the season.
There is no doubt that everyone is gunning for Tiger this week. With this being the last event of the season for many of the top ranked golfers many players will be leaving everything on the course. Add a $10 million check to the mix and we should get one interesting week of golf.
Posted in FEDEX Cup, Major Articles, PGA TOUR | No Comments »
Thursday, September 10th, 2009
For the first time ever a healthy Tiger Woods is simply getting out played. Poor putting, by his standards, has allowed Steve Stricker to take over the FEDEX Cup points lead heading into the BMW Championship. In a season with five wins, but no majors, Tiger can’t seem to find his typical magic on the greens we have all become so accustomed to. Tiger and Steve Stricker will play together for the first two days as the pairing are arranged by the points rankings.
Stricker has been impressive in the playoffs once again with a win and a second place finish. Stricker had two wins on the season, and opportunity for several more, has been nailing the shots under pressure to not only catch but pass Tiger Woods. The golf world has been waiting for someone to compete with Tiger for years. Perhaps now there is a group of players that can do just that. It seems as thought the rest of the PGA Tour is finally starting to see that Tiger can be beat. Something that he never allowed in the past.
With two weeks remaining before the Cup is handed out, along with the $10 million winners purse, and Tiger has plenty of time to rebound. While his putting stroke looks as strong as ever his reading of greens seems to be the problem. Perhaps returning to Cog Hill, where he has won in the past, will give him the confidence to regain the points lead.
Posted in FEDEX Cup, Major Articles, PGA TOUR | No Comments »
Wednesday, August 19th, 2009
The best female golfers have gathered in Sugar Grove, Illinois for the 2009 Solheim Cup. Beth Daniel, Hall of Fame Member, captains a strong United States squad led by veteran Juli Inkster and points leader Paula Creamer. Michele Wie also played well enough throughout the year to earn a captains pick and will be making her first appearance in the Solheim Cup. There is no doubt that it could be a very close call when the singles matches get underway on Sunday.
Rich Harvest Farms will play host to the dual as the eleventh edition of the event gets underway on Friday. The Solheim Cup is the women’s version of the Ryder Cup and was named after golf manufacturer and Ping Golf founder Karsten Solheim. The USA teams have won eight of the eleven matches including the last two meetings. As with the Ryder Cup the location alternates venues in Europe and the States.
Posted in Major Articles, PGA TOUR | No Comments »
Sunday, August 16th, 2009
When Tiger Woods leads going into the final round of a major you might as well hand him the trophy, until today. Tiger had won majors 14 out of 14 times when leading going into the final round. Leading by two going into today many thought that Padraig Harrington was the only one with a realist chance to catch. Everyone was wrong.
Tiger started his day off with some extremely conservative play and never got the putts to drop. South Korean Y.E. Yang has beaten Tiger in the past, at the HSBC Championship, and he did it again today. Staying just behind Tiger for most of the round he made his move on the 14th hole where he chipped in for eagle. He never looked back.
Coming to the eighteenth, following bogies by both Yang and Woods at the 17th hole, both players found the fairway. Yang finished Woods off with a 3 hybrid that finished just below the hole and history was made.
Yang becomes the first Asian born player to win a major after taking up the game at age 19. It is a stark contrast to the typical all star golfers of modern times. Most great players are raised to be champions but Yang did it differently and has changed the course of golf history in the process.
Tags: PGA Championship, Tiger Woods, YE Yang
Posted in Major Articles, PGA TOUR | No Comments »
Wednesday, August 5th, 2009
Phil Mickelson is making his return to the PGA Tour one week prior to the PGA Championship. This weeks WGC-Bridgestone Invitational promises to be a great warm up for the last major of the year. Coming off his win at the Buick Championship Tiger Woods looks to build his momentum and solidify his comeback from last years knee injury. This weeks field is as strong as it gets for a non-major.
Coming off his second place finish, and the second time he missed a playoff in a major by one stroke, Lee Westwood leads the charge to hunt down Tiger Woods. Stewart Cink also returns following his win at the British Open hoping to end the year strong and claim his spot among the elite golfers in the world.
With a field as impressive as this weeks it becomes rather pointless to try and pick a winner. The world’s best are are all looking to go into the PGA Championship with a win. In tournaments like this it is best to sit back and enjoy the drama.
Posted in Major Articles, PGA TOUR | No Comments »
Thursday, July 23rd, 2009
There is no doubt that there is a major change occurring throughout professional golf. Over the past several years golfers in their forties and fifties are not just competing but also winning golf tournaments. Kenny Perry lost the Master’s in a playoff to Angel Cabrera, had he won he would have become the oldest winner of a major. Tom Watson had a similar fate at this years British Open.
The fact is that there is a major power shift happening on tour. Since Tiger Woods came on tour there has not been another young golfer that has won on a consistent basis. It has been the veterans that have been dominating the tour year after year. This trend seems to be growing stronger and stronger. Tom Watson won his first major is 1975 and nearly won last week at the Open Championship. This kind of longevity cannot be found or expected in any other professional sport. While we are waiting for a young golfer to follow in Tiger’s footsteps it is the Champions Tour that is bringing the most contenders to the field.
Posted in Major Articles, PGA TOUR | No Comments »
Thursday, July 16th, 2009
Phil Mickelson officially announced he will skip the British Open, the season’s third major, next week. He has decided to stay with his wife and mother who are both fighting breast cancer. Amy Mickelson had surgery on July 1 and his mother Mary is to have surgery today. Few updates have been given on either regarding their condition or the state of their battle. Mickelson has played in the last 61 major championships, the longest current streak on the PGA Tour. Mickelson’s spot will be given to Ben Crane who is the first alternate.
Posted in Major Articles | No Comments »
Thursday, July 16th, 2009
Just six weeks after Amy Mickelson was diagnosed with breast cancer Phil’s mother Mary has also been diagnosed with the disease. Not much information has been released other than Mary will have surgery Friday at the MD Anderson Cancer Center, where Amy had surgery last week.
Amy is said to be doing quite well given the circumstances. With the new developments Phil’s appearance at the upcoming British Open is seeming more unlikely. There is no doubt that the Mickelson’s have the support of the golfing world as they continue their fight.
Posted in Major Articles, PGA TOUR | No Comments »
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