Read More...
[Source: The Golf Blog]
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
If Garcia wins the Masters I�ll play golf naked, and Golfsmith will give you a TaylorMade driver
Wow the folks at Golfsmith are big risk takers. Read a portion of their press release below, but it basically says that that if you buy one of three TaylorMade drivers from Golfsmith between now and April 11th, you’ll be refunded your money if Sergio Garcia wins the Masters.
It is no secret that I’m [...]
Read More...
[Source: Hooked On Golf Blog]
It is no secret that I’m [...]
Read More...
[Source: Hooked On Golf Blog]
Golf On TV This Week
Arnold Palmer Invitational
Thursday 3/26
3:00 PM - 6:00 PM ET
GOLF
Thursday 3/26
8:30 PM - 11:30 PM ET
GOLF
Friday 3/27
3:00 PM - 6:00 PM ET
GOLF
Friday 3/27
8:30 PM - 11:30 PM ET
GOLF
Saturday 3/28
2:30 PM - 6:00 PM ET
NBC
Sunday 3/29
2:30 PM - 6:00 PM ET
NBC
J Golf Phoenix LPGA International
Thursday 3/26
6:30 PM - 8:30 PM ET
GOLF
Friday 3/27
6:30 PM - 8:30 PM ET
GOLF
Saturday [...]
Read More...
[Source: Hooked On Golf Blog]
Thursday 3/26
3:00 PM - 6:00 PM ET
GOLF
Thursday 3/26
8:30 PM - 11:30 PM ET
GOLF
Friday 3/27
3:00 PM - 6:00 PM ET
GOLF
Friday 3/27
8:30 PM - 11:30 PM ET
GOLF
Saturday 3/28
2:30 PM - 6:00 PM ET
NBC
Sunday 3/29
2:30 PM - 6:00 PM ET
NBC
J Golf Phoenix LPGA International
Thursday 3/26
6:30 PM - 8:30 PM ET
GOLF
Friday 3/27
6:30 PM - 8:30 PM ET
GOLF
Saturday [...]
Read More...
[Source: Hooked On Golf Blog]
Transitions Championship TV Times
Transitions Championship Television TImes
Thursday 3/19
3:00 PM - 6:00 PM ET
GOLF
Friday 3/20
3:00 PM - 6:00 PM ET
GOLF
Saturday 3/21
3:00 PM - 6:00 PM ET
NBC
Sunday 3/22
3:00 PM - 6:00 PM ET
NBC
Read More...
[Source: Hooked On Golf Blog]
Thursday 3/19
3:00 PM - 6:00 PM ET
GOLF
Friday 3/20
3:00 PM - 6:00 PM ET
GOLF
Saturday 3/21
3:00 PM - 6:00 PM ET
NBC
Sunday 3/22
3:00 PM - 6:00 PM ET
NBC
Read More...
[Source: Hooked On Golf Blog]
Next Tiger Woods appearance at Bay Hill next week
Let me take you back to February 15, 2009. Tiger hadn’t played on tour in roughly eight months. I predicted his upcoming schedule exactly:
Accenture Match Play is a good candidate for Tiger�s return…
Doral on March 12 is a strong candidate for Tiger to play, and the Arnold Palmer Inivitational March 26th is a very [...]
Read More...
[Source: Hooked On Golf Blog]
Accenture Match Play is a good candidate for Tiger�s return…
Doral on March 12 is a strong candidate for Tiger to play, and the Arnold Palmer Inivitational March 26th is a very [...]
Read More...
[Source: Hooked On Golf Blog]
What Not to Say While Caddying for Erica Blasberg
LOOK WHO�S CADDYING for LPGA Tour player Erica Blasberg.�Yep, it's true,� writes Shane Bacon at Dogs That Chase Cars.
�This week I will be at the J Golf Phoenix LPGA International Presented by Mirassou Winery at Papago Golf Course in Phoenix, Arizona, caddying for a real, live LPGA girl in a real, live LPGA tournament. What you got to say about that, Rick Reilly?�
Shane is a golf blogging pal, and I told him I have complete confidence in his abilities. I mean that. But just in case he gets a case of the nerves, I�ve compiled a short list of things he might want to avoid saying to Erica this week.
�I think the red tees are up there.�
�Don�t go right.�
(If there�s trouble right.)
�What yardage book?�
�Don�t go left.�
(If there�s trouble left.)
�I don�t know why there are 15. I counted 14 when we left the range.�
�Eventually.�
(If Erica asks, �Do you think I can get there with a 5-iron?�)
�How about breaking par?�
(If an angry Erica says, like Fulton Allem once said, �I feel like breaking something.�)
�Wow! Check out her swing!�
�Hit it, Alice.�
-The Armchair Golfer
(Photo: LPGA Tour)
src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js">
Read More...
[Source: ARMCHAIR GOLF BLOG]
Thursday, March 19, 2009
NBC will show Tiger Woods on weekend if he's out of Accenture by then
Wow. How's this for covering Tiger Woods? NBC says it will show a lot of Tiger on the weekend -- even if he's out of the tournament.
Maybe the PGA Tour should give Tiger Woods a bye to the semifinal round, in order to ensure media coverage and ratings? What say you, dear Readers?
Read More...
[Source: The Golf Blog]
Maybe the PGA Tour should give Tiger Woods a bye to the semifinal round, in order to ensure media coverage and ratings? What say you, dear Readers?
Read More...
[Source: The Golf Blog]
Wells Fargo bank to hide its name from PGA sponsorship
Wells Fargo bank acquired Wachovia, which hosted the Wachovia Championship in Charlotte. Wells Fargo has received $25 billion in bailout money from the U.S. government.
Now, Wells Fargo wants to drop its name from the tournament and stop all entertainment events, given the negative publicity Northern Trust bank received from receiving bailout money and hosting a golf tournament. The tourney will be called the Quail Hollow Championship for the golf course where it is played. (More)
Read More...
[Source: The Golf Blog]
Now, Wells Fargo wants to drop its name from the tournament and stop all entertainment events, given the negative publicity Northern Trust bank received from receiving bailout money and hosting a golf tournament. The tourney will be called the Quail Hollow Championship for the golf course where it is played. (More)
Read More...
[Source: The Golf Blog]
Should bailout banks receiving billions of U.S. taxpayer money be allowed to sponsor PGA tournaments?
Rep. Barney Frank and PGA commissioner Tim Finchem have debated the issue. According to WSJ, "Mr. Finchem acknowledged that this controversy already has negatively affected tournament sponsorships. Both Morgan Stanley and Wells Fargo & Co., which are sponsoring tournaments this spring, have said that they will scale back or curtail the entertaining of clients at those events."
This is complex issue. If the banks are under contract to sponsor a PGA tournament, not sure they can just bail on their contractual obligation without monetary consequences. We'd have to look at the terms of the contract. On the other hand, let's say that a golf sponsorship costs $20 million or more, but ends up being a loss for the banks or sponsors. It would be hard to justify letting a bank receiving billions of dollars in taxpayer money draining more money on PGA golf tournament.
What say you, dear Readers? Should banks receiving US taxpayer money be allowed to sponsor PGA events?
Read More...
[Source: The Golf Blog]
This is complex issue. If the banks are under contract to sponsor a PGA tournament, not sure they can just bail on their contractual obligation without monetary consequences. We'd have to look at the terms of the contract. On the other hand, let's say that a golf sponsorship costs $20 million or more, but ends up being a loss for the banks or sponsors. It would be hard to justify letting a bank receiving billions of dollars in taxpayer money draining more money on PGA golf tournament.
What say you, dear Readers? Should banks receiving US taxpayer money be allowed to sponsor PGA events?
Read More...
[Source: The Golf Blog]
Natalie Gulbis wins the Celebrity Apprentice (we hope!)
Natalie Gulbis talks about her fellow competitors on the Celebrity Apprentice. Click here for her comments in USAToday If you can read in between the lines (wink, wink), it looks like Natalie won the competition or at least stayed on the show for a while.
Read More...
[Source: The Golf Blog]
Read More...
[Source: The Golf Blog]
Tiger to play in Australian Masters, for a $3M appearance fee
Tiger Woods is playing in the Australian Masters this November. Unlike the PGA Tour, other tours can pay appearance fees so Tiger is getting his, a paltry $3,000,000. Tiger’s appearance fee for one non PGA Tour event is more than many PGA Tour players make in a year.
I get an appearance fee too
I’m [...]
Read More...
[Source: Hooked On Golf Blog]
I get an appearance fee too
I’m [...]
Read More...
[Source: Hooked On Golf Blog]
Hank Haney fixing Charles Barkley's swing becomes big hit for The Golf Channel
Last week's reality show featuring Tiger Woods's swing coach Hank Haney, trying to fix Charles Barkley's golf swing drew 800,000 viewers. That was the best ratings for The Golf Channel in 2009 outside of Golf Central and tourney coverage.
I watched the show and absolutely loved it. It's especially nice to see the world behind Hank Haney, Tiger's coach. Haney revealed the "Tiger workout" schedule, starting at 6 a.m. and ending at 6 p.m. It was almost unbelievable.
Read More...
[Source: The Golf Blog]
I watched the show and absolutely loved it. It's especially nice to see the world behind Hank Haney, Tiger's coach. Haney revealed the "Tiger workout" schedule, starting at 6 a.m. and ending at 6 p.m. It was almost unbelievable.
Read More...
[Source: The Golf Blog]
Lee Trevino favors rule requiring Tiger Woods to play every tournament once every 3 years
Lee Trevino supports a rule change that would require every player -- read Tiger Woods -- to play every PGA event at least once every 3 years. Or else go to the European Tour. (More) There's been much talk about this kind of requirement for a while. In this depressed economy, where sponsors for tourneys may be falling by the wayside, I think we'll see a renewed push for this requirement.
The problem with this proposal, though, is that it doesn't make sense under the current PGA season, which stretches from January to October, if not November. No professional athlete should be required to play a season that long, playing nearly all events, and risking long term injury. Tiger Woods is the most marketable asset of the PGA. He should not be required to risk greater wear and tear on the knee by playing more events than he wants to. However, I might be in favor of such a requirement of mandating every player to play every tournament (every 3 years) IF the PGA shortens the season to March to end of August.
What say you, dear readers: should the PGA require Tiger Woods to play every tournament, once every 3 years, even if the season stretches from January to October?
Read More...
[Source: The Golf Blog]
The problem with this proposal, though, is that it doesn't make sense under the current PGA season, which stretches from January to October, if not November. No professional athlete should be required to play a season that long, playing nearly all events, and risking long term injury. Tiger Woods is the most marketable asset of the PGA. He should not be required to risk greater wear and tear on the knee by playing more events than he wants to. However, I might be in favor of such a requirement of mandating every player to play every tournament (every 3 years) IF the PGA shortens the season to March to end of August.
What say you, dear readers: should the PGA require Tiger Woods to play every tournament, once every 3 years, even if the season stretches from January to October?
Read More...
[Source: The Golf Blog]
SwingVision - Tiger Woods Driver
To commemorate Tiger Woods' return to the tour this week at the Accenture World Match Play Championship, I dug up a SwingVision video from a couple of years ago showing him hitting driver off the tee. As you can see, Tiger tees the ball low for greater control. If he teed it higher, like Vijay, he'd be able to raise his angle of attack with the driver and drive it much further. But if there's one thing Tiger doesn't lack, it's distance! Boy, I sure do miss those SwingVision close ups of ball impact, don't you?
Read More...
[Source: Grouchy Golf Blog]
Read More...
[Source: Grouchy Golf Blog]
Is Sergio Garcia the new World No. 1 in golf?
Apparently, World No. 2 Sergio Garcia is within striking distance of overtaking Tiger Woods for the No. 1 spot. A victory next week for Garcia, plus a second or third the week after, and a poor showing by Woods, would catapult Garcia close to the No. 1 spot. More.
Figuring out the World Rankings in golf is like figuring out how the TARP money will be spent on failing banks. That Tiger Woods could have been gone from golf for 8 months and still retain his No. 1 status does raise some questions about the meaning of the rankings. Could Tiger be the No. 1 player in the world, for example, if he took an entire year off? I am in favor of making the rankings reflect more the current standings.
That Sergio Garcia is No. 2, when Paddy Harrington had a better year than he did in 2008, also raises questions about the rankings. Something seems not right here.
Read More...
[Source: The Golf Blog]
Figuring out the World Rankings in golf is like figuring out how the TARP money will be spent on failing banks. That Tiger Woods could have been gone from golf for 8 months and still retain his No. 1 status does raise some questions about the meaning of the rankings. Could Tiger be the No. 1 player in the world, for example, if he took an entire year off? I am in favor of making the rankings reflect more the current standings.
That Sergio Garcia is No. 2, when Paddy Harrington had a better year than he did in 2008, also raises questions about the rankings. Something seems not right here.
Read More...
[Source: The Golf Blog]
Perspective
After the round at Doral yesterday my boy and I were looking at Tiger’s scores for his four rounds: 71, 70, 68, 68. Tiger wasn’t too thrilled with the results but commented that his ball striking was good.
My boy turned to me and asked, “What’s your best round ever? 68?”
I answered, “Yes, [...]
Read More...
[Source: Hooked On Golf Blog]
My boy turned to me and asked, “What’s your best round ever? 68?”
I answered, “Yes, [...]
Read More...
[Source: Hooked On Golf Blog]
Accenture Match Play suffers devastating blow after Tiger Woods and all No. 1 seeds lose
I'm staring at the brackets. It does not look good. No Tiger. No Sergio. No Vijay. No Paddy. No Anthony Kim.
The only way that the weekend can be salvaged, in terms of TV ratings, is if Phil Mickelson faces Ernie Els on Saturday. Rory McIlroy against Camillo Villegas would be fun, but not sure these young guns are well known to be a draw. Justin Leonard against Jim Furyk would be a good match-up, but these guys are not that exciting. Of course, there's no guarantee any of these matches will occur; it all depends on what happens Friday.
The bigger problem, though, is the Sunday finals. I don't see a really exciting matchup for TV. The Gary Player and Sam Snead side of the draw has no one exciting left from a TV audience perspective. At least the other side could produce Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els, or Camillo Villegas.
Don't get me wrong, the players remaining are all good. But the TV audience drops like a rock in water if there's no Tiger. Unfortunately, the Accenture Match Play is not like March Madness where viewers watch for the upsets and underdogs.
Read More...
[Source: The Golf Blog]
The only way that the weekend can be salvaged, in terms of TV ratings, is if Phil Mickelson faces Ernie Els on Saturday. Rory McIlroy against Camillo Villegas would be fun, but not sure these young guns are well known to be a draw. Justin Leonard against Jim Furyk would be a good match-up, but these guys are not that exciting. Of course, there's no guarantee any of these matches will occur; it all depends on what happens Friday.
The bigger problem, though, is the Sunday finals. I don't see a really exciting matchup for TV. The Gary Player and Sam Snead side of the draw has no one exciting left from a TV audience perspective. At least the other side could produce Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els, or Camillo Villegas.
Don't get me wrong, the players remaining are all good. But the TV audience drops like a rock in water if there's no Tiger. Unfortunately, the Accenture Match Play is not like March Madness where viewers watch for the upsets and underdogs.
Read More...
[Source: The Golf Blog]
Golf on TV this week
WGC - CA Championship
Thursday 3/12
2:00 PM - 6:00 PM ET
GOLF
Friday 3/13
2:00 PM - 6:00 PM ET
GOLF
Saturday 3/14
2:00 PM - 6:00 PM ET
NBC
Sunday 3/15
3:00 PM - 7:00 PM ET
NBC
Puerto Rico Open
Thursday 3/12
6:30 PM - 8:30 PM ET
GOLF
Friday 3/13
11:30 AM - 1:30 PM ET
GOLF
Saturday 3/14
6:30 PM - 9:30 PM ET
GOLF
Sunday 3/15
7:30 PM - 10:30 PM ET
GOLF
AT&T Champions [...]
Read More...
[Source: Hooked On Golf Blog]
Thursday 3/12
2:00 PM - 6:00 PM ET
GOLF
Friday 3/13
2:00 PM - 6:00 PM ET
GOLF
Saturday 3/14
2:00 PM - 6:00 PM ET
NBC
Sunday 3/15
3:00 PM - 7:00 PM ET
NBC
Puerto Rico Open
Thursday 3/12
6:30 PM - 8:30 PM ET
GOLF
Friday 3/13
11:30 AM - 1:30 PM ET
GOLF
Saturday 3/14
6:30 PM - 9:30 PM ET
GOLF
Sunday 3/15
7:30 PM - 10:30 PM ET
GOLF
AT&T Champions [...]
Read More...
[Source: Hooked On Golf Blog]
Henrik Stenson, Golf's First Male Underwear Model?
There were a couple of important things we learned from the 2009 CA Championship at Doral Golf Resort & Spa:
Apparently, Stenson stripped to his skivvies to avoid soiling his clothes from hitting out of the water hazard. But c'mon, doesn't he get those stylish threads for free anyway? Surely he could have borrowed Fanny's caddy bib. Maybe Stenson signed with a new underwear sponsor that demanded more exposure. On second thought, I think he was simply looking for a good excuse to show off that professional athlete bod of his. Golf is a sport, right?
Read More...
[Source: Grouchy Golf Blog]
- Mickelson's game is in top form heading into the Masters
- Tiger Woods' swing is the best it has looked since perhaps 2000
- Henrik Stenson wears tighty whities
Apparently, Stenson stripped to his skivvies to avoid soiling his clothes from hitting out of the water hazard. But c'mon, doesn't he get those stylish threads for free anyway? Surely he could have borrowed Fanny's caddy bib. Maybe Stenson signed with a new underwear sponsor that demanded more exposure. On second thought, I think he was simply looking for a good excuse to show off that professional athlete bod of his. Golf is a sport, right?
Read More...
[Source: Grouchy Golf Blog]
Ratchet Belt Review
Over the course of a year a few things in my golf world change. My handicap goes up in the spring and proceeds downward until the winter snow shuts the game down for the year. One thing which seems to follow a similar seasonal change is my waistline. I seem to have [...]
Read More...
[Source: Hooked On Golf Blog]
Read More...
[Source: Hooked On Golf Blog]
The Economic hazard: why Tim Finchem and PGA Tour are in big trouble
Now that all the hoopla about Tiger Woods's return has died down, it's time for the golf world to take a reality check. The PGA Tour is in trouble, big trouble.
Here's why: Sponsorships for nearly half (20) of the PGA tournaments are expiring in 2010. U.S. Bank and FBR have both announced they will stop sponsoring. Another bank, Northern Trust, received flak from Congress for hosting a golf tournament while receiving bailout money. By my count, at least 8 other tournaments are sponsored by entities from the banking, financial, or insurance sectors--areas hit really hard by the economic downturn. 5 are sponsored by car manufacturers (including 2 by Buick), another sector in dire economic straits. Mercedes has already announced that it may stop its sponsorship of the season's first tournament.
According to USAToday, "Tour officials are pursuing new sponsorship deals with companies in the energy, retail and environmental industries to try to make up for a potential exodus of sponsors." Even Tiger Woods is worried, saying: "The Tour is obviously feeling it, just like any other part of the business world. I think it is very important for all of us to understand how important the sponsors are to our sport. ... We may be losing a few tournaments, and a lot of tournaments are coming up on their contract years. This is a very important year."
Meanwhile, PGA Commissioner reportedly gets paid between $4 to 5 million per year. Yet it was his lame-brained idea for the failed FedEx Cup playoff system that has leveraged golf with $10 million escrow payouts each to Tiger Woods and Vijay Singh. It was also under Finchem's tenure that the PGA Tour expanded beyond reason to run from January to October and even November. That expansion, however, was not appealing to Tiger Woods, who has, quite sensibly, skipped events in order to spend time with his family and to otherwise stay fresh. For those unlucky tournaments that Tiger skips (or misses due to injury), the TV ratings are usually down 40-50%, and attendance goes down as well.
In other words, the PGA Tour is a one-trick pony (or tiger). Its fortunes ride on the shoulders of Tiger Woods. Yet the expansion of the golf season, creation of the gimmicky FedEx Cup playoff system, and bloated salary of the Commissioner and other excesses of the PGA Tour have all been poor choices. They have left the PGA Tour in a precarious financial position right now. The prudent thing for Tim Finchem and the PGA Tour to do would be to contract the season: concentrate on fewer tournaments with fewer sponsors, but nearly all of which feature Tiger Woods. (The NFL does a great job for football, in a short season that culminates in the Super Bowl, one of the most watched events of the year.) The shortened golf tournament schedule should start in March, not January. The lame-brained FedEx Cup playoff should be scrapped, while more money should be thrown into the 4 majors. The PGA Commissioner should take a pay cut. The price of admission (and bottled water) at PGA events should be lowered. And then the PGA Tour should hope and pray that Tiger Woods keeps winning for the next 5 to 10 years.
Read More...
[Source: The Golf Blog]
Here's why: Sponsorships for nearly half (20) of the PGA tournaments are expiring in 2010. U.S. Bank and FBR have both announced they will stop sponsoring. Another bank, Northern Trust, received flak from Congress for hosting a golf tournament while receiving bailout money. By my count, at least 8 other tournaments are sponsored by entities from the banking, financial, or insurance sectors--areas hit really hard by the economic downturn. 5 are sponsored by car manufacturers (including 2 by Buick), another sector in dire economic straits. Mercedes has already announced that it may stop its sponsorship of the season's first tournament.
According to USAToday, "Tour officials are pursuing new sponsorship deals with companies in the energy, retail and environmental industries to try to make up for a potential exodus of sponsors." Even Tiger Woods is worried, saying: "The Tour is obviously feeling it, just like any other part of the business world. I think it is very important for all of us to understand how important the sponsors are to our sport. ... We may be losing a few tournaments, and a lot of tournaments are coming up on their contract years. This is a very important year."
Meanwhile, PGA Commissioner reportedly gets paid between $4 to 5 million per year. Yet it was his lame-brained idea for the failed FedEx Cup playoff system that has leveraged golf with $10 million escrow payouts each to Tiger Woods and Vijay Singh. It was also under Finchem's tenure that the PGA Tour expanded beyond reason to run from January to October and even November. That expansion, however, was not appealing to Tiger Woods, who has, quite sensibly, skipped events in order to spend time with his family and to otherwise stay fresh. For those unlucky tournaments that Tiger skips (or misses due to injury), the TV ratings are usually down 40-50%, and attendance goes down as well.
In other words, the PGA Tour is a one-trick pony (or tiger). Its fortunes ride on the shoulders of Tiger Woods. Yet the expansion of the golf season, creation of the gimmicky FedEx Cup playoff system, and bloated salary of the Commissioner and other excesses of the PGA Tour have all been poor choices. They have left the PGA Tour in a precarious financial position right now. The prudent thing for Tim Finchem and the PGA Tour to do would be to contract the season: concentrate on fewer tournaments with fewer sponsors, but nearly all of which feature Tiger Woods. (The NFL does a great job for football, in a short season that culminates in the Super Bowl, one of the most watched events of the year.) The shortened golf tournament schedule should start in March, not January. The lame-brained FedEx Cup playoff should be scrapped, while more money should be thrown into the 4 majors. The PGA Commissioner should take a pay cut. The price of admission (and bottled water) at PGA events should be lowered. And then the PGA Tour should hope and pray that Tiger Woods keeps winning for the next 5 to 10 years.
Read More...
[Source: The Golf Blog]
Fantasy Golf 2009 - Week 10 Results
FANTASY GOLF WEEK 10 NOTES
Two more weeks until the 1st 3rd of the season is in the books and someone wins a pair of VedaloHD sunglasses!
I’m happy to announce that my good friend and fellow golf blogger Rich (EatGolf) won week 10!
Week 10 winner: “EATGOLF“
Winners contact me to claim prizes!
PRIMARY SPONSORS
(click now and thank ‘em!)
Weekly [...]
Read More...
[Source: Hooked On Golf Blog]
Two more weeks until the 1st 3rd of the season is in the books and someone wins a pair of VedaloHD sunglasses!
I’m happy to announce that my good friend and fellow golf blogger Rich (EatGolf) won week 10!
Week 10 winner: “EATGOLF“
Winners contact me to claim prizes!
PRIMARY SPONSORS
(click now and thank ‘em!)
Weekly [...]
Read More...
[Source: Hooked On Golf Blog]
Phil silences the Sergio #1 talk, and plays right handed
Lefties hitting right-handed, righties hitting left-handed…
Did anyone see Phil Mickelson’s right-handed shot out of the bushes with his club turned upside down? I rolled that back a few times on my DVR. While I don’t agree that the shot choice he made was a wise decision, it was impressive. The result wasn’t [...]
Read More...
[Source: Hooked On Golf Blog]
Did anyone see Phil Mickelson’s right-handed shot out of the bushes with his club turned upside down? I rolled that back a few times on my DVR. While I don’t agree that the shot choice he made was a wise decision, it was impressive. The result wasn’t [...]
Read More...
[Source: Hooked On Golf Blog]
2009 Transitions Championship TV Schedule and Tournament Notes
THE 2009 TRANSITIONS CHAMPIONSHIP is underway at the Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club in Palm Harbor, Florida.Purse: $5.4 million
Winner�s share: $972,000
Defending champion: Sean O�Hair
Inside the field
Inside the course
2009 Transitions Championship Leaderboard
TV SCHEDULE
Twelve hours of TV coverage are on tap for the 2009 Transitions Championship.
Thu, 3/19:
GOLF 3p - 6p ET
Fri, 3/20:
GOLF 3p - 6p ET
Sat, 3/21:
NBC 3p - 6p ET
Sun, 3/22:
NBC 3p - 6p ET
PGA Tour radio coverage
-The Armchair Golfer
src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js">
Read More...
[Source: ARMCHAIR GOLF BLOG]
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Perhaps GolfNow.com should change their name to MaybeGolfSometimePossiblyIfWeGetAroundToIt.com
A blogger friend of mine was telling me back in January that he was having some decent revenue results as a result of joining the GolfNow.com program. He suggested I sign up. Since this site takes a pretty penny out of my personal pocket to keep it running I thought I’d give their [...]
Read More...
[Source: Hooked On Golf Blog]
Read More...
[Source: Hooked On Golf Blog]
Q&A: Bob Smiley, Author of �FOLLOW THE ROAR�
BOB SMILEY IS A FUNNY GUY. FOLLOW THE ROAR, Bob�s book on tailing Tiger Woods during the 2008 season, is filled with wit and the right touch of silliness. Some of the characters and anecdotes reminded me of a Bill Bryson tale.But here�s another thing about this TV writer: He is a smart observer of this crazy game. If you read this book, I�m pretty certain you�ll make some new discoveries about Tiger (and pro golf), just as Bob did on his 604-hole trek. And you�ll have plenty of laughs along the way.
Bob answered my questions yesterday.
ARMCHAIR GOLF: First of all, for all of us guys, how in the world did you talk your wife into this adventure?
BOB SMILEY: Easy. After being more or less unemployed for two years, my wife�s definition of �legitimate job� had grown a little fuzzy. Then, at the end of January, right as I was leaving for the Buick Invitational, HarperCollins signed on to the idea. It also helped that I was going to follow a golfer who only played 15 times a year. She never would have given me a green light to follow Vijay Singh for the year. Then again, neither would HarperCollins.
ARMCHAIR GOLF: Can you take on any of us guys like, you know, as a coach?
BOB SMILEY: Sure. And in this economy, I don�t even care what kind of coach you�re talking about. I�ll pretend to be an expert.
ARMCHAIR GOLF: I noticed you kept a very precise timeline in the book. What was your timepiece of choice?
BOB SMILEY: Most of the days, just a normal wristwatch. But occasionally I�d wear one of those giant clocks around my neck like Flavor Fav.
ARMCHAIR GOLF: Starting on your next answer, could you add a timeline to the rest of this Q&A, like in the book? I think that would be kind of cool.
BOB SMILEY: 10:26 a.m.* No thanks.
ARMCHAIR GOLF: Can you share one of your �aha�s� about Tiger, something you would not have learned about him without following him the way you did?
BOB SMILEY: Tiger is much more personable and likeable than the Ivan Drago-type persona he usually displays during his round. On plenty of occasions, usually when he was waiting for a ruling or sitting on a backed-up tee box, he would drop the facade and joke with his fellow players, caddies, even fans. But the second it was time to play, the shield went up and it was back to business.
ARMCHAIR GOLF: Do you think golf spectators ever �choke�?
BOB SMILEY: Oh sure. Usually this comes in the form of indecision. �Should we wait here next to the tee or go to the green? Or should we grab some hot dogs? Hey, is that Joe Durant?� By the time you decide what you want to do, you�re half a hole behind Tiger and his mob.
ARMCHAIR GOLF: What were some of the strangest things you saw on your side of the ropes during those 604 holes?
BOB SMILEY: I met a guy named Kenny at Bay Hill who got caught in a rainstorm, didn�t bring a jacket, and didn�t have money to buy one. So he slithered into a green trash bag that he stole from a janitor and shuffled down the cart path, his feet only able to move a few inches at a time.
At the U.S. Open, I saw people having panic attacks or passing out from the crush of fans. A golf course isn�t normally the place you�d expect to see people suffering from claustrophobia.
ARMCHAIR GOLF: You recently traveled to the Accenture Match Play in Arizona to witness Tiger�s return to golf. What happened to you in the desert?
BOB SMILEY: I wanted to be there for Tiger�s return, to experience the madness of following Tiger one last time. After watching Tiger knock off Brendan Jones, I walked into a cactus, accidentally drank a curdled beverage that had been cooking in my car for 24 hours and took it as a sign to go home. I�d learned all there was to learn from Tiger based on what he did in 2008. Turns out by leaving early I saved myself from having to watch Tiger lose.
ARMCHAIR GOLF: Since you left the tournament after the first round, do you think you bear any responsibility for Tiger�s loss, or is it all on him?
BOB SMILEY: I�m not comfortable blaming Tiger or me for his loss. Let�s just blame the USGA for allowing Tim Clark to use that belly putter.
ARMCHAIR GOLF: What were you driving last year when you were following Tiger?
BOB SMILEY: My 2000 Ford Explorer.
ARMCHAIR GOLF: And now that you�re a hotshot golf author, what do you drive?
BOB SMILEY: My 2000 Ford Explorer.
You can also follow Bob at his blog, FORE RIGHT.
FREE Drawing for Autographed Copy of FOLLOW THE ROAR!Enter the free drawing (at above right) for an autographed hardcover edition of FOLLOW THE ROAR: Tailing Tiger for All 604 Holes of His Most Spectacular Season by Bob Smiley.
-The Armchair Golfer
Read More...
[Source: ARMCHAIR GOLF BLOG]
Playing golf with Luke today
Today the temp is supposed to reach 60 degrees. It has been very windy, but hopefully it will die down by 3PM. I’m excited to play golf with my pal Luke Swilor again, and to be starting the first day of the 2009 men’s club.
My game is so off right now due to [...]
Read More...
[Source: Hooked On Golf Blog]
My game is so off right now due to [...]
Read More...
[Source: Hooked On Golf Blog]
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)