This is For You, Sergio...

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Go work on your game, and also your mental game. You make me sick with your whining about everything all the time. Stop blaming everyone else for your bad play. It's golf! You own your shots, and you own your game. Deal with it!

Congratulations, Adam Scott!

Source (Scott K.Brown & Augusta National) / Via

(More photos at the source link.)

PGA Tour's WGC-Accenture Tourney Snowed-out

...in southern Arizona


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That's right. A few miles north of Tucson, AZ got a bunch of snow, and the PGA tourney there had to be postponed. Talk about a first!

Please click HERE to go see more pictures from PGA Tour's Facebook page..

There's Soon to be a Floating Golf Course

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The powers that be of the Maldives Islands are going to build a golf course on one of their newly constructed man-made islands! It's expected to cost more than a half-a-billion dollars, and will be -essentially- the world's first floating golf course.

Click here to go read the full article at UK's Mail Online..

Via / Sources: PGA.com, and Mail Online

The 2012 Masters Leaderboard

(Through Friday completion)


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Click the image above to go see the complete leaderboard!   Or, here is the Masters homepage.

Go Freddie!!!

The Masters - An Infographic

Via / Source

Golf's Not Hard

A late-90's Tiger Woods Nike commercial..


Source / Via

Tiger & Waves at Pebble Beach

CTE!                                                                                                               Via

Possible Sources

Golf These Days

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OK Tiger Woods won a tournament today - for the first time since the 2009 Thanksgiving scandal came out. In the 2 years and a few weeks as he's been "coming back", he dropped from 1st to 52nd in the Official World Rankings, which is actually a short fall relative to most golfers.

That's how far ahead of everyone else he was by the PGA Tour's world rankings statistics!


In almost the same 2-yr period, Fred Couples has turned 50, and dropped from about 25th to 310th, yet NO ONE has won more money on the Champions Tour in that span - than him.


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In fact, I'll blow your mind a little more.. In the same timespan:

Fred Couples has won $4,156,334 in 39 events on two different tours (PGA Tour and Champions Tour).

Tiger Woods has won $1,955,003 in 21 events on the PGA Tour.

Freddie's earned $106,573 per event -- Tiger's earned $93,095 per event. Freddie played almost twice as many tourneys, though. And he's the old guy. Freddie's 52. Tiger will be 36 later this month.

I don't really know why I'm comparing these two, but then again I do.

This is incredibly huge for Tiger Woods. A lot of people doubted he could ever get back to this place again - including myself. It was a long 2 years. Once he went a few majors and a few more tourneys, when he wasn't back, we all knew he'd be back eventually.

Actually we didn't.

But then again - is he all the way back? Here's a super little Woods/Nicklaus comparison.

The Masters - four months from now - is gonna be incredible! The golf world in general is about to become important again..

PGA Tour Fairway Follies

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The 93rd PGA Championship: Preparing Atlanta Athletic Club

Here is an incredible video showing the preparation of the golf course where next week's PGA Championship will be played. You'll see immaculate conditions, gorgeous scenery, and of course, a lot of information regarding course superintendents' task of preparing the spectacular golf course.

Click the image above to see the video.. (Via)

Other resources:
Atlanta Athletic Club's website
Home page of the PGA Championship

Tiger Woods' New Personal Practice Facility

Immage Source

There are new pics of Tiger's new practice facility in Florida. Yahoo states that they found this news and these pictures from his blog, but the only article at his blog that I can find regarding the new practice facility was published March 7th. So Yahoo and I both are 4 months behind, I guess.

Says he: "I'm light years ahead of where I was at the end of last summer. The biggest thing is understanding what shot to hit and how to adjust my ball flight. Thanks to Sean Foley, I have a much deeper understanding of how to do this than ever before.

When will I win again? Whenever it happens, it happens. I'm just going to keep trying to progress.

Pretty soon, I'll be moving into my new home in Jupiter, Fla. I'm excited about that and even more excited about my new practice facility. It's phenomenal. Working with my team, I designed the short-game facility and oversaw its construction. It features four greens, six bunkers with different depths and kinds of sand, a video center and a putting studio. If no wind is blowing, the longest club I can hit is a 7-iron. It's also set up so I can hit shots out of my second-story studio." (Tiger's Blog)

Nevertheless, here is Yahoo's article with a bunch more images of every man's dream backyard.

These Guys Are Incredible

CTE! (Source)

When was the last time you shot 6 consecutive nines in 33-33-31-33-30-33?

Blows my mind.

The 33-in-1 Golf Club

Whether you're going on a flight and don't feel like taking your entire bag of clubs along with you (checking them costs $$$!), or you just don't have room in the car when on vacation, this club can be the solution. Obviously, however I'm sure it can't be PGA- nor USGA-approved for competition.

"This is the golf club that adjusts to 33 different loft angles, enabling you to carry more than twice the number of allowable clubs in one hand. A gear system inside the heel tilts the clubhead in 1/2-loft increments, allowing golfers to choose from five putters, two drivers, three fairway woods, 14 irons, or nine wedges with the twist of a dial. The club has the look and feel of a classic iron but its adjustable head quickly transforms it from a 64º super lob wedge for carrying bunkers to a perfectly vertical putter for saving par. Unlike a golf bag that requires an additional fee when flying, the club retracts to 19" long to enable free, convenient transport in a suitcase. The clubhead is made from 17-4 stainless steel - the same durable material used in professional metalwoods - and the shaft and clubhead lock into place to provide the same feel and response as a traditional club."

Click the image above to go to the link.

Via

The Texas Open Courses

By Art Stricklin at Links Magazine with my own additional comments.



The Valero Texas Open is the third oldest stop on the PGA Tour behind only the Western and Canadian Opens, and it's the oldest stop to have been played in the same city every year. All 82 tournaments, going back to 1922, have been played in San Antonio.

Winners of the Texas Open could open their own wing at the World Golf Hall of Fame, starting with Walter Hagen, who captured the 1923 Texas Open with a total purse of $5,000, bigger than the U.S. Open at the time. Arnold Palmer had a three-peat–on three different courses no less–in the early '60s. In 1940, Byron Nelson and Ben Hogan staged one of their two PGA Tour playoffs with Nelson coming out the winnner, just like he did at the Masters two years later. Native son Ben Crenshaw won in his first-ever start as a member of the tour in 1973, and Tommy Armour III set the tour's scoring record of 254 (26 under) during the 2003 tournament.

Golf's legendary past, present and future have all come together for a Texas-sized golfing good time on some legendary Lone Star layouts at the Texas Open. Let's take a tour of the courses in chronological order:

Brackenridge
HOST YEARS (21): 1922–26, 1929–40, 1950–55, 1957–59
PAR: 71
YARDAGE: 6,263
ARCHITECT: A.W. Tillinghast, John Colligan (2008 restoration)
FACT: First public course in Texas, first public course with grass greens.
A very short course that I've played a half-dozen times, but not since the epic redesign in 2008. Several holes were completely changed, including a re-routing of holes 15-17. As most older courses in this area, elevation change is non-existant, but the premium is placed on accuracy, as tight, tree-lined fairways are what gives Brackenridge its teeth.


Willow Springs
HOST YEARS (10): 1927–28, 1941–49
PAR: 72
YARDAGE: 6,930
ARCHITECTS: Emil Loeffler, John Bredemus,
Vern Schmidt (renovation)
FACT: Longest hole in San Antonio is the 663-yard 2nd.
One of my favorite courses in the area! I've loved every one of my 25+ visits, and am always reminded why I want to go back again. The famous 2nd hole is almost 700 yards long, and seems as if it just keeps curving to the right. Most holes here are relatively wide-open, so it's as good a course as any for those who struggle keeping their driver straight. It's the site of my career-longest drive of 345 yards. Hole #12, par-5, 544.. lotta wind that day! Certainly have played Willow Springs more than any other course in San Antonio.


Fort Sam Houston (La Loma)
HOST YEARS (4): 1950–51, 1956, 1960
PAR: 72
YARDAGE: 6,566
ARCHITECT: A.W. Tillinghast
FACT: Last active-duty military base to host a PGA Tour event.
The company I used to work for had one of our yearly tournaments there one year, and I wasn't really impressed. Sure there are worse courses for your money, as it did have quite a bit of character, but just not the quality conditioning nor design. That was late '90's, though, so by now, it may be better.


Oak Hills CC
HOST YEARS (23): 1961–66, 1977–94
PAR: 70
YARDAGE: 7,183
ARCHITECT: A.W. Tillinghast
FACT: Originally founded as Alamo CC in 1922 but ceased operations during WWII and reopened as Oak Hills in 1946.
The only course on this list, other than the new venue, that I've never played. It's a private club, so I can't exactly expect to have played it, but I have been to a tourney with my father when it was hosted there (probably late 80's). The par-3 18th at Oak Hills is a truly incredible golf hole!


Pecan Valley
HOST YEARS (3): 1967, 1969–70
PAR: 71
YARDAGE: 7,183
ARCHITECT: Press Maxwell
FACT: Also hosted 1968 PGA Championship won by Julius Boros with Arnold Palmer second.
No doubt about it - Pecan Valley is one of the toughest golf courses in existence. I've played it about 10 times and have never scored anywhere near my handicap. Super-tight fairways, several creeks crossing fairways, subtly slippery and undulating greens, and one of the toughest par-4's I've never made par on (#2). Pecan Valley is simply a must-play if you go to San Antonio! It's no wonder at all that a PGA Championship was hosted here. They need to come back!


Woodlake
HOST YEARS (5): 1972–76
PAR: 72
YARDAGE: 7,143
ARCHITECT: Desmond Muirhead
FACT: Ben Crenshaw won his PGA Tour debut here in 1973.
Might just be my favorite course in San Antonio. Definitely top-4. When I wasn't at Willow Springs, I was here. It's always a really fun round of golf at Woodlake CC, simply because you're trying to putt some of the fastest, slick greens around. No wonder Crenshaw won here. The design is amazing, and the price is always just right too. As are most of these. I hadn't really touched on that yet, but along with Willow Springs, they won't break your bank, and you'll enjoy your round. Some of my best rounds have come here, but only because my putter was on that particular day.


La Cantera (Resort Course)
HOST YEARS (15): 1995–2009
PAR: 70
YARDAGE: 6,881
ARCHITECTS: Jay Morrish and Tom Weiskopf
FACT: Named best new course in America when it opened in 1994; last Morrish-Weiskopf collaboration.
If it weren't for the price, there is no other place within an hour of me that I'd go play. Without a doubt La Cantera is my dream course. I've been here countless times for the Texas Open (including 1996 when Tiger and I had a 2-second pro-spectator encounter). I've only played the resort course about 6-7 times, and proudly hold onto the memory of a 27-hole extravaganza with Rick in which I shot 40-42-40. The course has more character than any course I've ever been to. Serious elevation changes to the point where countless PGA pros have complained (they won, sigh), but some of the best greens I've ever putted. The definition of a subtle break.. very fast.. very true. Shame on the PGA tour for taking the Open elsewhere!


TPC San Antonio (Oaks Course)
HOST YEARS (2): 2010–2011
PAR: 72
YARDAGE: 7,435
ARCHITECTS: Greg Norman and Sergio Garcia
FACT: The second TPC course here will host a Champions Tour event this year.
No I haven't been there yet. The pictures and videos and reviews I've seen are incredible. We shall see if it's better than La Cantera.I guess I have my work cut out for me.

Source

Breaking News: 2012 Masters Tickets Available To Public

Click to enlarge!!                                                                                                             Image Source

Augusta, Ga. -- For the first time in decades, Augusta National will make a limited number of Masters Tournament badges available to the public via its website, beginning with the 2012 event.

The Masters has traditionally been one of the toughest tickets in sports, with a waiting list for patron badges dating back to 1971. Only spectators on the club's list are allowed to buy tournament-round badges each year.

Golf fans will be allowed to submit their applications to both the tournament and for practice rounds via Masters.com. The club is moving all of its ticketing online, including ticket services for annual patrons.

"Moving the entire application process to our official tournament website is a safe and convenient way for those wishing to apply for daily practice round tickets," said Masters chairman Billy Payne. "We are also pleased to provide a limited number of tickets for the individual tournament round days, which, up until now, have only been allocated to our series badge holders."

Daily tournament ticket applications must be submitted by June 30, with practice round applications allowed until July 30. Each allocation will have its own random selection process, with applicants notified by email within several weeks of the application deadline.

Until now, practice round tickets have only been available via lottery.

Next year's tournament runs the week of April 2.

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My PGA Championship Foursome

Ernie Els (Source)
Steve Stricker (Source)
Bubba Watson (Source)
Justin Leonard (Source)

The Annual July Birth Of Golf

The British Open is underway. It is always a birthday thing for me. I love golf, and I love watching the best in world. I love the Masters and the U.S. Open, but the British Open will always correspond with my own birthday, and I love it.






















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My fourball challenge pick this year is as follows:

Justin Rose
Steve Stricker
Geoff Ogilvy
Tom Watson

Gonna get a nap and then go get some beer and enjoy the day!

It's Qualifying Time For The PGA Tour

You know what sucks? I just noticed that it's Q-school time for golfers on (or not quite on) the PGA Tour. David Duval had to go back to Q-school to get his card. He had another bad season, but he did finish t-2nd in this year's U.S. Open. Seems like that would be enough for him to keep his card, but apparently not.

David Duval was the last player, besides Vijay Singh, to hold the #1 Official World Golf Ranking several years ago before Tiger Woods' stranglehold on it.

Other notable former tour members who had to go back and endure the 6 to 18 rounds (depending upon their exemptions) in mulitple locations are:

Todd Hamilton *
Joe Ogilvie
Tim Herron
Paul Stankowski
Todd Fischer
Glen Day
Carlos Franco
Jeff Maggert
Chris Riley
Tom Pernice, Jr.
Jesper Parnevik
Omar Uresti
Jonathan Kaye
Mark Hensby
Shaun Micheel *
Dicky Pride
J.P. Hayes
Jason Gore
Robert Damron
Skip Kendall
Marco Dawson
(clicking on each name HERE takes you to each player's page.

Some of these guys have won PGA tournaments. A few have even won a major championship *!

Let's assume there are 10 million golfers in a given set of guys across the world who are very, very good.. Good enough to feel they could compete on tour. The top 1% of them would be 100,000. So, the top 0.01% of them would be 1,000. It just goes to show you that even the guys in the bottom half of these top-1000 golfers struggle on a yearly basis to play with the big boys.