Archive for April, 2010
April 30, 2010
Unwittingly, Tiger Woods might have found the best possible way to work his way back into the good graces of the public consciousness.
Meet a few hundred of them. Up close and personal.
Tiger Woods takes one of two drops he needed on his front nine. (AP) The world No. 1 spent much of Thursday flitting among the fans, moving the gallery ropes out of the way, herding folks around to give him a look at the green and trying to keep from falling into dead last among the players in the morning wave at the Quail Hollow Championship.
Hey, he promised to be more humble, right?
Looking very much like a guy who hadnt fired many live rounds from the chamber over the past five months, Woods played a round so ugly, he was quick to add it to the litany of things hes done recently that hed like us to forget about. His 2-over 74 was so ghastly, he didnt bother going to the driving range to straighten out what had masqueraded as his golf swing.
“Hell with it,” he said, heading off to the locker room. The result was hellish enough, to be sure.
Making only his second start of the year, Woods was even more erratic than he was three weeks ago at the Masters, when he at least managed to bust par every day despite the residue from his self-imposed exile. His opening round in Charlotte was his sloppiest effort since he blew up 51 weeks ago in the final group Sunday at the Players Championship, when he shot 73, mostly with smoke and mirrors, and fell out of contention before 30 minutes had elapsed.
For much of the morning, Woods this time, he blew up at the beginning, not the end.
“It wasnt the driver, it was everything,” he said. “I had a two-way miss going, which was great, all day.”
That would be sarcasm, for those who are not fluent in self-deprecation. But it meant that fans lining either side of the fairway had a great chance of getting an eyeful of Americas most-watched athlete, who again was well-received. Although, given the way Woods was suffering already, they could have heckled him mercilessly and he might not have noticed.
“Well, I had my head down struggling,” Woods said. “I was dropping balls out of hazards and finding balls in trees, so I had my own issues out there.”
To his credit, Woods has pledged to behave with more civility during and after his rounds, and Thursday gave him ample, multiple opportunities to blow his cork. Even after he whacked balls into the water on consecutive hol and bet your wallet plenty of eyes and ears were pointed his direction.
For a guy who has played golf at perhaps two degrees under the boiling point for the past three decades, it must have been hard to keep the steam from emanating from every orifice. Then again, maybe it was the unplanned baths that kept him cooled off.
He his exactly one fairway in regulation on his front nine (beginning on No. 10), and as one wise guy noted, he dropped his first F-bomb of the day on the 16th when he yanked another drive dead left and screamed … “Fore.” Fans were dodging his sideways shots all day, including the 16th, where his yanked approach shot sailed over the greenside gallery, caromed off a steep slope behind them and bounced dead toward the green.
“It that had been me, it would have hit the cart path and bounced into the lake,” said a middle-aged guy with a beer in hand, having survived the scramble as Woods ball sailed over his noggin.
Alas, Woods soon began hitting balls in places where you cant get a lucky bounce. On the tricky 17th, his eighth hole of the day, Woods hit one of his poorest shots in recent memory, a horrid pull-hook into the water that missed the semi-island green by several yards. He had to take a drop and hit his third shot from the womens tee and made a double-bogey.
Worse, on his next swing, a driver on the 18th, he yanked a ball into the creek along the left side of the fairway and made another bogey, holing a testy 3-footer just to break 40. After 10 holes, Woods was 4 over and tied for 72nd place among the 78 guys on the course in the morning wave. Parker McLachlin, who shot 88 and had a 12 on the seventh hole, was keeping Woods from scraping the bottom of the scoreboard barrel.
To think that Woods actually began the day with a birdie, after a perfect drive in the fairway, too. Then an interminable two hours passed before Woods drove it in the short grass again.
“Yeah, it actually felt pretty good after that start,” he said. “Fortunately, my second hole, I hit a quick hook, then the next hole I hit another hook off the tee, and I kind of stuck a couple in the ground after that, too.”
More sarcasm. Not that wasnt plenty to go around. On the 15th hole, Woods sliced his drive into some dense shrubbery, although the type of flora wasnt exactly clear. The following conversation actually took place as Woods executed a low-flying punch shot under the branches.
“What kind of tree is that?” one media guy asked.
“Holly bush,” answered another.
“Isnt that the name of one of his girlfriends?” the first guy said.
Hey, the round was so ugly, we had to find sources of amusement somewhere.
A day earlier, after his pro-am round, Woods described his 4-under 68 as “Scratchy,” with a nod to one of his favorite TV programs, Then Thursday must have been “Itchy.” After all, he kept hitting drives into trees and bushes and beating himself over the head about it.
Woods couldnt put the day behind him fast enough. After all, hes had enough misery in his life lately, so no there was need to dwell on an irredeemably crappy round by grinding out answers on the range.
An insurance company would have written it off as a total loss. He hit four fairways in regulation, exactly half the greens and had no idea where the ball was going. Woods, on the other hand, was headed in a straight line to somewhere else, in a hurry.
“Im just going to go hang it up today,” Woods said, “and come back out tomorrow.”
April 30, 2010
Ai Miyazato has already won two of first four LPGA events this season, and the Japanese star is threatening to win another and spoil the going-away party for Lorena Ochoa.
< to take a two-stroke, first-round lead in the Tres Marias Championship over Spanish rookie Azahara Munoz.
Top-ranked Ochoa, who will retire after this tournament, and Michelle Wie carded 66s. </ and has risen but she may be the most accurate player in womens golf. She needed only 22 putts on Thursday, most in the 8- to12-foot range.
“I dont feel like Im playing so much better all of a sudden,” Miyazato said. “I feel like this is just one step at a time and building up my confidence. Last year gave me a lot of confidence. Just right now I am showcasing what I can do.”
Miyazato had a 63 two months ago in Thailand in the LPGAs opening event. That was a 9-under 63.
On Thursday, Miyazato racked up 10 birdies and didnt drop a shot.
Ochoa asked to be paired with Miyazato and American Natalie Gulbis in the first two rounds. Ochoa grew up in junior golf with Gulbis and described Miyazato “the nicest girl on the tour.”
“I have played with her so many times since I have been on the tour, but today was really special,” Miyazato said. “Natalie and Lorena were really relaxed, so they had an effect on me and I played really relaxed.”
Ochoa, who is stepping away to raise a family and work on her charity foundation, hinted that Miyazato is a candidate to eventually take over her No. 1 ranking. There are many others, too, starting with No. 2 Jiyai Shin, No. 3 Yani Tseng and No. 4 Suzann Pettersen
“Ive never seen somebody with so much control in her game,” Ochoa said. “It doesnt matter if she hits long, short, or low or high.”
The surprise near the top of the leaderboard is Munoz, an LPGA rookie who is playing only her second event. But she has experience. She won the 2009 British Womens Amateur Championship and was the NCAA individual champion in 2008 at Arizona State.
“Maybe I dont want to feel pressure,” said Munoz, who grew up in Marbella on Spains Mediterranean coast. “I know everybody back home wants me to do well, and everyone is following me but I try not to think about it because it is not going to help me.”
Like everyone, Munoz was trying to adjust to Morelias altitude of 6,500 feet, where the ball flies about 10 percent farther. And she wants to play with Ochoa over the weekend.
“I know everyone is going to be cheering for her, but I just want to play with her,” Munoz said. “I never got the chance to do it and its her last tournament.”
Wie and O No. 10. The scores were low with quiet morning winds and favorable flag placements. It will change if the wind blows through the canyons surrounding this mountainside course.
“There are a lot of birdies and eagles out there,” said Wie, who picked up her only LPGA victory last season in Guadalajara. “Its a constant grind to keep making birdies, and even if you are making birdies youre not really above anyone else.”
Ochoa, who won this event last year for the third time, tried to play the round like any other.
“I woke up in the morning and told myself: Were here, this is the last tournament, lets enjoy the moment,” Ochoa said.
“For sure I tried not to put too much pressure on myself because otherwise Id be crying early in the day. Once I hit the golf course I tried to focus on my golf round and play a good 18 holes and then probably the emotions will com hitting a 6-iron approach to 20 feet and holing the putt. Wie hit an 8-iron to 5 feet on the same hole.
Ochoa smiled when she by winning it.
“No, I put her with me because she is my friend and its better to be with somebody who is playing good, believe me.”
April 29, 2010
Clearly in a panic, the man kept stumbling backward until he finally bumped into a tree. His camera pressed against his face, he then tried to properly frame and snap a photograph that represented an instant family keepsake.
Utterly impromptu, Tiger Woods had stopped along the gallery ropes behind the first green and agreed to pose for a photo with the frantic mans 6-year-old son.
Tiger Woods signs for some eager fans after walking off the 18th green. (AP) A high-school cheerleader smile pasted on his face, Woods stood patiently frozen for perhaps 45 seconds as the man fumbled with the camera, trying to properly operate the zoom function. Ultimately, he blew the shot and inadvertently cropped his son out of the photo.
“I choked,” said Andy Nicholson, the kids dad.
“You think he was nervous?” Woods cracked to part of his security contingent as he walked to the next tee.
Youd think that at this point, Woods would be the one feeling the psychological heat to both frame and present his image more properly, but Wednesday marked another step in a surprisingly seamless transition back into public view when his pro-am round at the Quail Hollow Championship went off with nary a whimper or cry from the crowd.
In fact, there was little noise at all. Outside of the uncharacteristically generous photograph with the 6-year-old and an autograph signed for a young man in a wheelchair, it felt as though the past five months never happened. The crowds were strangely muted, no airplane banners taunted him from above and Woods mostly reverted to his stoic persona and didnt interact much with the fans. Honest to god, a couple of giggling teenage girls even professed their love, just like always.
It was another baby step closer to “normalcy,” as Woods dubbed it, a locale he hasnt often visited since Novembers Escalade Escapade began to dually unfold and unravel. As usual, Woods was first off the pro-am tee, at 7:30 a.m., when fans were sleepy eyed and beer sales were essentially nil. Still, the gallery vibe could accurately be described as … boring.
The conspicuously large and uniformed police security force, using Segways, bicycles and their own shoe leather to track the procession, proved practically unnecessary. There were more heretics at a Billy Graham Crusade. Pardon the career parallel, but former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards could have walked down the fairway with Woods and not drawn a catcall. Maybe theyre inured to cads in Charlotte, since Michael Jordan owns the NBA team and played college ball a few miles down the interstate, but it was almost as though the fans didnt know how to react. So nobody did much of anything.
“Just the way we like it,” one Charlotte cop said on the 16th tee box.
F mostly just to yawn. Theres plenty of acreage for the tainted world No. 1 to cover before he reincarnates his career, and the next two weeks will prove illuminating, but so far, the annoyances have been as permanently hurtful as a Thursday three-putt.
For Woods, the Masters represented a huge hurdle, psychologically and professionally. But he will play in Charlotte and at the Players Championship outside Jacksonville in consecutive weeks, two events with a large public component within their fan bases. In March, major champions like Stewart Cink and Jim Furyk were using words like circus and zoo to predict the tone when Woods returned, but outside of the media center, that has hardly been the case. With every passing day, the inflamed public temperature seems to drop another degree.
“I have to say this feels a heck of a lot more normal than the Masters did,” Woods said of the atmosphere and the shape of his game. “I just need to go out there and do a little bit of practice session this afternoon, gym work this afternoon as well, to get ready for tomorrow, and back into tournament mode again.
“I think just two weeks in a row competing is Ill have a better barometer of what normal really feels like because I havent done that in a while.”
Insert punchline here, since Woods and normal havent been used in the same sentence since last fall. In fact, 12 months ago to the day, Woods was paired in the Quail Hollow pro-am with NFL star Peyton Manning and a slew of stories were generated about the squeaky-clean and saleable reputations of the two most successful sports pitchmen of the modern era.
Oops.
The 6-year-old and his father personified the Woods dilemma as it relates to fans. Andy Nicholson, a volunteer marshal at Quail Hollow, is pastor of a church in nearby Dallas, N.C. His son has no idea about the depths of Woods alleged depravities, he said.
“People make mistakes, you know?” the elder Nicholson said. “I feel for him. I believe god gives us all a second chance. Hopefully, he will come back stronger than ever and redeem himself.”
His son, still buzzing from the photographs taken of him and Woods, interjected happily, “I have never been in a newspaper before.”
Woods surely has, and lately, for all the wrong reasons. seems well under way. Not a negative peep was heard from the throng Wednesday, other than one fan razzing Woods from afar because he was being carried by his two pro-am partners. Woods laughed and fired back, “You got that right.” Woods wasnt nearly as demonstrative or interactive with the gallery as he was at the Masters, when he seemed like the second coming of Phil Mickelson and did everything but volunteer to change diapers. He bumped fists with a few guys along the ropes, including Ken Sutton, 44, of Charlotte.
Like Nicholson, Sutton said that even though he considered himself a religious man, he can separate Woods the athlete from Woods the flawed person. He admits that Woods club-chucking and occasionally profane deportment “hasnt been the best for the sport,” but he was rooting the guy on, anyway.
“Hes the best player in the history of the game,” Sutton said.
Point made, but what about the reams of u he screwed up royally,” Sutton said. “But I dont want my daughter looking to Tiger Woods as an example of how to live right. I will tell her, Work like he does, act like I do.
“The whole role-model thing to me is different. If you are looking to him for that, you are not doing a very good job yourself as a parent.”
Sutton acknowledged the apparent inconsistency in cheering on a player whose nocturnal activities would have caused Caligula to blush.
“I am a fan because of his golf,” Sutton said, “not because of him as a person.”
That distinction was less clear elsewhere. Behind the fourth green, three teenage girls, rather skimpily attired for such a cool morning, stood along the gallery ropes and greeted Woods like he was Justin Timberlake. One of the cadre of Charlotte cops assigned to the Woods group, who watched the exchange as Woods walked past the girls, was asked if they were his daughters, whether hed let them near the guy.
“Not dressed like that,” he said.
On occasion, Woods tossed out bits of charm like candy from a passing parade float, like when one young kid with a bad haircut called out to him behind the 15th green.
“Nice mohawk,” Woods said with a grin, generating a big laugh from everybody within earshot.
That was perhaps the most telling insight into his true persona: Sarcastic and frequently biting. But at least it wasnt overly contrived. The gee-whiz Woods seen over the first couple of days at the Masters acted more like an alien abduction victim. By the weekend, he had switched back to default viper mode, full of hiss and vinegar.
As he did in Augusta, Woods heaped praise on the local galleries afterward, another seemingly pre-emptive strike to blunt any bad behavior before it happens. He gushed about the crowds at the Masters so often, it was like hed dived into a mosh pit and been carried around Amen Corner by fans. In fact, the reception was polite, but hardly raucous. Same thing on Wednesday, when, in NASCAR terms, the energy level was as memorable as an interview with Jimmie Johnson, who happens to be a Quail Hollow member.
That said, Woods is steeled for the day when hell get roughed up for his actions. Some are already looking ahead to Friday, when Woods will play in the afternoon wave and the beer will be flowing freely. Although, as two dudes toting light beers pointed out Wednesday morning, at a steep $6 a bottle, its hard to get too lubed up.
It would rank as a surprise if he doesnt hear from a loudmouth or 20 next week in Jacksonville, where much of the throng is less concerned with golf then they are the beer gardens, socializing and being noticed by the females in attendance.
“Whether they do or not, its happened before, and it happened before any of this ever happened,” Woods said of his checkered recent past. “Ive dealt with that before.”
So far, with the lens of the world focused on him, he hasnt heard a peep just yet.
April 29, 2010
Michael Whan had several weeks to come up with a plan to talk Lorena Ochoa out of retiring after this weeks Tres Marias Championship.
The LPGA commissioner offered one last pitch on Wednesday to the 28-year-old Mexican, who has been ranked No. 1 for three years but is leaving to raise a family and elevate the profile of her charity foundation.
“I told her Im going to send her some Brett Favre videos,” said Whan, sitting next to Ochoa. “Its never too late to come back.”
Ochoa laughed, patted Whan on the shoulders and continued saying goodbye.
Ochoa announced last week she was after her marriage in December to Aeromexico chief executive Andres Conesa.
Shell play a few selected tournaments, but a full-blown return seems unlikely.
Despite golfs low profile in Mexico, she is ranked among the countrys five most successful athletes joining baseball pitcher Fernando Valenzuela, boxer Julio Cesar Chavez, 400-meter runner Ana Guevara and soccer player Hugo Sanchez.
“Im not going away because I am not playing good golf,” Ochoa said, “Im going away because this is the right time for me. Ive achieved my goals, Im happy and I want to leave as No. 1.”
Ochoa said she intended to play this season, but in Asia early in the season she found herself unmotivated in two tournaments. Her decision came quickly after that.
“I feel light. I feel happier,” she said. “Its been easier the last couple of weeks.”
Ochoa has won 27 LPGA events, including two majors, has been No. 1 for three years and has been honored four straight years as the LPGA Tours Player of the Year. She has also won this event three times, including last season.
She leaves a reputation for kindness and humility in her wake and steps away as the one of the most popular players on tour.
“Lorena is a better person than a golfer,” said tour player Reilley Rankin, who described Ochoa as her “best friend out here.”
“I think we all knew it was coming within a couple of years, but to be honest with you I dont think Lorena knew it was coming this soon,” Rankin said. “She has just always been so real and very well-balanced, and as soon as that balance in her life was a little off she was aware of it.”
Player after player offered stories about Ochoa being down to earth.
Rankin described traveling with Ochoa on the Futures development tour and buying fishing poles to kill time as they racked up thousands of highway miles.
“We went and bought poles one me and my dad against Lorena and her brother. “We had an on-going contest who caught the most fish.”
Christina Kim recalled being paired with her a few years ago in the tournament Ochoas hosts annually in her hometown of Guadalajara.
“They were holding up babies at the edge of the ropes, just like the Pope,” Kim said. “Ive been saying for years she going to be canonized one of these days.”
Hawaii-born Michelle Wie, part of a long list of players who could eventually take over the No. 1 ranking, said she respected Ochoa for being true to herself.
“Its fast,” Wie said of the retirement. “I kind of respect her for that, though. It was a good move. She has to do whatever makes her happy. And she left on top and that I respect too.”
Ochoa will tee off on Thursday and Friday with American Natalie Gulbis and Japanese Ai Miyazato. Ochoa asked specifically to play with both of them.
Gulbis and Ochoa grew up in junior golf together, and Miyazato has won two of the first four LPGA events this season and is also in that group that could eventually claim No. 1.
“I think shes the nicest girl on tour,” Ochoa said of Miyazato. “Shes my favorite. I admire her, how she handles her career with all the pressure from Asia, from Japan. Its going to be a couple rounds that Im going to remember forever, so its nice to be with them.”
Miyazato knew nothing of Ochoas choice until she was told Wednesday on the practice range.
“I feel really happy about that. It is an honor to be able to play with her in her last tournament,” Miyazato said. “She is always the same, on the same wavelength if she is playing good or not so good. It is tough to be like that.”
Just behind Ochoa in the rankings are: No. 2 Jiyai Shin of South Korea, Yani Tseng of Taiwan, Suzanne Pettersen of Norway, Miyazato and American Cristie Kerr at No. 6. Wie is No. 9.
Despite Ochoas dominance, no Mexican player is anywhere close to the top tier. Behind Ochoa is Sophia Sheridan ranked No. 344 and Tanya Dergal at 737. Many eyes will be o Ana Paula Valdes and Marijosse Navarro.
Ochoa is sure to get a giant reception. A 15-foot-by-15-foot canvas sign hanging in front of the massive flagstone club house reads: “Welcome to your home Lore. Thanks for all you have given us.”
Tournament officials said they expected attendance of 40,000, almost double the 25,000 of last season at the Tres Marias Golf Club, a mountainside course cut by deep valleys and spectacular scenery.
Ochoa said she had given away about 200 tickets to friends and family.
“I can tell you right away it is going to be tough dealing with all the emotio joy tears,” Ochoa said. “For me, this is the best moment in my career.”
April 28, 2010
This weeks European Tour betting sees Miguel Angel Jimenez gunning to become the first Spaniard in eight years to win the Open de Espana at the Real Club de Golf in Sevilla. Sergio Garcia was the last Spanish-born player to win the event on home soil when he turned the trick in 2002. See what chance the Spanish Open betting at Bet365 Sportsbook gives the home-grown talent, and get the best odds to win the Open de Espana along with match-ups priced to less than 103%.
European Tour Betting - Open de Espana
Jimenez has four European Tour victories on home soil, and has already tasted success this season, winning the Omega Dubai Desert Classic in February. The 46 year old should be fresh, having been grounded last week (along with several other European golfers) by the disruption caused by the Icelandic volcanic eruption. This should play in his favour as he looks to end the eight year barren run without a local winner of the Spanish Open.
The main challenges to Jimenez should come from Stephen Dodd, Darren Clarke, Colin Montgomerie, Thomas Bjorn, fellow Spaniard Pablo Martin, and reigning champion Thomas Levet. Oliver Fisher is also a form player, recording a fifth consecutive top ten finish at the Ballantines Championship in Korea last week, to exceed his earnings to date for the whole of last season. This all but guarantees his European Tour card for next season, which leaves him free to concentrate on breaking his duck on the professional circuit.
Bettors should note that last year’s tournament took place in Catalunya. The last time the event took place in Sevilla in 2008, Irishman Peter Lawrie took home top honours.
Keep checking back at Bet365 Sportsbook for full Open de Espana betting, pricing to 60% better value than traditional sportsbooks.
April 28, 2010
Online betting players should be in for a wild weekend at the Quail Hollow Championship, which is annually one of the stronger fields on the PGA Tour. This year’s event has been bolstered by the return of the world’s No.1 player, along with the Masters champion, but this week’s winner will be a guy who lit up Augusta in the final round, and he’s also won here before, too.
What: Golf Betting
When: Thursday, April 29th-Sunday, May 2nd
Where: Quail Hollow Club, Charlotte, NC
Defending Champion: Sean O’Hair
The Storyline
There’s another strong field at Quail Hollow this year, and Sean O’Hair will have a tough time becoming the first two-time winner of this event, which started back in 2003. Five of the top 10 in the world are here this weekend, but the field is powered by four of the top five, including Tiger Woods. The closing stretch at Quail Hollow is one of the most difficult on the PGA Tour, and the 217-yard par-3 on No.17 is sure to have a say in who wins the championship on Sunday.
Quail Hollow Picks – The Favorite
Woods and Phil Mickelson will be the favorites this week as the top two players in the world, and Woods won this event back in 2007. Woods also finished fourth here in 2009, while Mickelson was T-5 and shot a 67 on Sunday. Neither have teed it up since the Masters, won by Mickelson, but both have great track records here. Mickelson has three top-10s in five trips to Quail Hollow (with one 12th-place result), while Woods has crack the top 10 in three of four events, along with an 11th-place finish.
Quail Hollow Picks – The Second Tier
There’s a large group of players that you could take in your best sportsbook from this group: O’Hair as the defending champion, but he’s not the only former winner in the field. Not only is Woods here, but so is Jim Furyk, who also won at Harbour Town two weeks ago, and Anthony Kim, who won in Houston and tore up the final round of the Masters with a 65. Camilo Villegas has been consistent this year, and he finished T-22 here last year. Y.E. Yang is another possibility after finished T-11 here in 2009, and after coming in eighth at the Masters, he won the Volvo China Open and is rock-solid from tee to green.
Quail Hollow Picks – The Longshots
Bubba Watson may be worth a darkhorse pick in your best sportsbook after finishing T2 here last year, even coming off a T-43 result in New Orleans. Boo Weekley is another possibility and he looks to be rounding into form with four top-25 results in his last five starts, including a 10th-place result in New Orleans, and he was T-11 here last year. David Toms is coming off a T-28th at his home tournament in New Orleans, but he won the first event at Quail Hollow in 2003, and he was T-18 in 2009.
Quail Hollow Prediction & Outlook
The pick this week will be the first player to win multiple times here, and we’re going with Anthony Kim, who has finished in the top three in three of his last four starts, and he romped to a five-stroke win at Quail Hollow in 2008. Woods and Mickelson will be there at the end, but Kim, who was already wildly confident in his ability, has even more belief in himself since the Masters and he’s going to a course where he’s had success before. This is Anthony Kim’s breakout year, and you should snag him in your sports betting picks.
Pick: Anthony Kim
April 28, 2010
Augusta Chronicle
Did the fast getaway of Lorena Ochoa catch you off guard, and who now stands to inherit the mantel as the No. 1 female player in the game?
ELLING: Some were more surprised that she stepped away now, versus stepping aside completely. Im in shock and awe at both. In a way, its refreshing that Ochoa has the courage of her convictions to bail while at the top in order to pursue an actual family life, and that her words are not just hollow and meant to spin the truth, as compare to the other world No. 1, if you will. My only concern is that she is pulling the trigger too quickly. She was married five months ago and her entire personal circumstance has changed. She became an instant mom to three semi-grown kids. It makes me wonder if she made an emotional decision, rather than a well-reasoned one. As for who will ascend to the top, its a complete crapshoot. Outside of Ochoa and veteran Karrie Webb, the remaining eight players in the world top 10 have combined for 33 career LPGA wins. A player could win two or three times in a year and ascend to No. 1. Its quite possibly going to be a revolving door.
<p that Ochoa left prematurely is no surprise at all. Shes been warning everyone as far back as her rookie season that she would not be a lifer on the tour circuit and that she had other things in life she wanted to pursue. Trying to apply our own American cultural standards to her sense of family and career is both irrational and irrelevant. Ochoa is doing whats always been in her heart, and good for her. I hope life away from golf proves as successful and satisfying as it was in the game. As for who takes the mantel, the only one with enough “it” factor to elevate the LPGA Tour with both Annika and Lorena on the shelf is Michelle Wie. The stage is cleared for her to finally step up and deliver on the promise weve expected for years. For the LPGA to rise to even a portion of its former glory, it needs a marketable superstar to fill in the void. Wie needs to be that star. Hope she can handle it.
In a relatively short span of seven years, why has the Quail Hollow tournament become so popular with fans and players? What are they doing right?
ELLING: Right out of the chute, when organizers were leaving bottles of champagne in players lockers in the weeks leading up to the tournaments first year, they have done almost nothing wrong. Having a decidedly old-school, parkland golf course, where homes dont come into play and the setup typically has the right touches, doesnt hurt, either. Last year, they cut down the rough and players were hitting recovery shots from places only a squirrel could love. Or maybe Phil Mickelson. Giving the players Mercedes-Benz cars for the week helps distinguish the tournament in terms of creature comforts, too. All that said, there are still some questions about the future looming. Title sponsor Wells Fargo is contracted through 2014 but isnt putting its name on the event because it fears the PR fallout, and some at the club would rather pursue a PGA Championship or U.S. Open. Speaking selfishly, since it sells out virtually every year, draws a stellar cast and produces creditable winners, it would be a shame to lose Quail Hollow as a regular stop. It might be the best-run regular event on tour.
MICHAUX: The formula had a clear vision to make his own tournament fit as much of the mold of the Masters as is humanly possible for a regular tour event. He made it a first-class experience for the players, their families and the fans, and it proved perfect. Word of mouth helped draw the superstars out into the former “dead zone” of the tour schedule. Like Augusta, the key is a golf course that players like to play and fans like to look at. It will be a great shame when the tournament stops its annual visit to Quail Hollow in 2014. They can try to take it somewhere else in the Charlotte area, but it will be impossible to replicate the atmosphere and attention that this leadership has created at Quail. There is pretty much no chance that it will continue at Quail after the contract runs out, and the folks at Quail have openly been eyeing an upgrade to major status with a spot in the PGA Championship rotation or a Ryder Cup berth on their wish list. It will make a good major venue, but everyone will miss its regular place on the schedule.
Tiger Woods is playing in consecutive weeks at venues where he has won a total of twice. Personally and professionally, what are you expecting to see?
ELLING: Hell need to clean up his scorecard considerably from the Masters because there wont be as many weekend birdie chances at Quail Hollow or the Players Championship as there were at Augusta, where he made 11 birdies and two eagles but didnt really challenge for the title. It will be interesting to see how he is received in Charlotte and Jacksonville, two venues that will draw huge crowds of aficionados and casual fans. Woods has gushed about his reception at the Masters, though it was mostly described as polite and perfunctory most of the time. To him, it might have sounded like a standing ovation. What happens now and how will security handle any potential catcalls or airplane banners? Its going to be a sideshow for a while, and if hes in contention, it might actually get worse.
MICHAUX: I expect well see a much more comfortable Woods on the golf course. He broke the ice at Augusta and did what he needed to do to insert himself back in public life. Now hell tighten the loose ends of his game to be more consistent and even more competitive. His chances of winning at Quail are considerably better than Sawgrass, a course that has never really suited him despite his Players victory in 2000 and his U.S. Amateur triumph many moons ago. As for what will happen outside the ropes, hes likely to get a similar reception in Charlotte that he got in Augusta. Youve got a similar caliber of fan and tournament officials are less likely to put up with any distracting nonsense than other places. As for Jacksonville, thats another story. That isnt typically the most golf-literate gallery. From my experience there, the fans go to the tournament to enjoy the sun and be seen as much as they go to see the golf. The environment around the 17th hole is always rowdy and it will be ripe for some heckling. As always, it will be an interesting place to be all week for potential carnage.
April 28, 2010
Organizers of the British Open are still waiting for an entry from Tiger Woods but expect him to try and become the first player to win the title three times at St. Andrews on the tournaments 150th anniversary.
Woods is one of five pla taking and returned to competitive golf recently at the Masters after a long layoff following a sex scandal.
“Tiger Woods has not yet entered, but in a normal year he would not have done that anyway, so I am absolutely certain he will be with us,” Royal and Ancient Club chief executive Peter Dawson said in a briefing on Tuesday.
The deadline to enter is May 27.
Dawson also downplayed concerns that Woods appearance after his highly publicized extramarital affairs might create security difficulties at St. Andrews.
“By the time the Open comes around, Tigers return to the game will be well established,” Dawson said. “Hes got quite a playing schedule in front of him and so the novelty factor of Tiger being back will have worn off to some degree. The Masters had a major problem in really having no idea what to expect, but we will have the benefit of several Tiger events behind us prior to the Open. I am very pleased that we are not the guinea pigs in this.
“We will be watching what happens with Tiger and other players between now and July and will be discussing the whole security position as we always do with the police. We always act on police advice in these matters.”
Assuming he decides to play, Woods has also been invited to participate in a special four-hole event on the day before the championship, open to all surviving Open champions to mark its 150th anniversary.
That includes Seve Ballesteros, who has accepted an invitation even though he is still recovering from brain surgery, and Jack Nicklaus, another three-time winner who has not yet confirmed he will attend. Neither has Greg Norman, who recently had shoulder surgery.
The R&A also explained why it was making a change to the 17th hole, the famous Road Hole which has lost much of its danger in recent years because of advances in club technology.
Dawson said Tuesday that taking the tee back 40 yards to make the hole 490 yards should force the players to take longer irons for their second shots into the green and risk their balls finishing in the deep greenside bunker or on the gravel road, which makes a third to the green very difficult.
Dawso a mandatory requirement with the World Anti-Doping A had shown that it was an almost drug-free sport with only one or two minor cases showing up. He said he doesnt expect golfers at the British Open to be subjected to blood tests, which is the only way to catch those who take human growth hormone (HGH).
“Thats certainly an issue thats coming at us at the moment,” Dawson said. “The testing that golf does meet WADAs requirements, and the International Golf Federations anti-doping policy is WADA complaint without the taking of blood and its something we will keep an eye on.
“I think its a way away in golf. But we bow to the experts on this and, if WADA say its necessary, then its necessary.”
April 27, 2010
For Jason Bohn, the second time was even better.
Bohn won the Zurich Classic on Sunday for his second PGA Tour title, birdieing three of the final four holes at TPC Louisiana for a 5-under 67 and a two-stroke victory over Jeff Overton.
“This is life changing,” said the 37-year-old Bohn, who admitted making his putt on 18 with tears in his eyes.
Bohn, who completed a third-round 71 in the morning in the weather-plagued tournament, finished at 18-under 270. He also won the 2005 B.C. Open.
Sundays victory, coming as it did after a variety of injuries and back surgery, was especially sweet, Bohn said. He told his caddie at the start of the final round he was planning on a quiet round.
“I just said I probably wouldnt say much because Im capturing all of this,” Bohn said. “I want to take this one to the grave. I want to remember every little detail that I missed on my first one.”
Bohn led since his 65 in the opening round, but admitted he felt the heat Sunday as several players moved into range.
Overton mounted a persistent challenge, twice tying Bohn on his way to a 66.
“Jeff was playing beautifully. He played beautiful golf today,” Bohn said. “I would say a after missing a long eagle putt, but Bohn, who made birdie putts of 5½ feet on No. 15 and 22 feet on No. 16, had to only tap in on 18 for his fifth birdie of the round.
Overton said he played great Sunday, but Bohn was unbelievable.
“The final four holes, I maybe got a little quick with putts,” Overton said. “Maybe because I wanted it so much.”
Troy Merritt (67) was third at 14 under. He was 7 under during a seven-hole stretch that ended at No. 13, making five birdies and an eagle.
“Its fun when youre making a lot of red numbers,” Merritt said. “Especially when theyre back to back to back to back.”
Lee Janzen (69) was another stroke back, and Greg Chalmers (69) was 12 under.
Heavy rain and lightning Friday and again Saturday morning delayed the early rounds. Bohn, who led wire-to-wire, played 24 holes Saturday and 30 Sunday. He had seven birdies and one bogey in his 30 holes Sunday.
Bohn completed his third round on Sunday morning at 13 under, two shots ahead of Alex Cejka. Overton and Janzen went into the final round at 10 under.
Bohn earned $1,152,000 after making $395,321 in his previous eight starts this year. In 1992, he won $1 million in a hole-in-one contest while a student at the University of Alabama. He has received $50,000 a year since then.
April 27, 2010
A boycott by South Korean golfers unhappy with new qualification rules instituted by the OneAsia circuit will not stop organizers from holding upcoming tournaments, the Korean Golf Association said on Monday.
The OneAsia Tour was launched last year as a joint venture between the Australian PGA and governing bodies in Asia, including China and South Korea. The tour scheduled 11 events for this year across the Asia-Pacific region.
However, OneAsia has met opposition from the more established Asian Tour as well as from South Korean players unhappy that the international circuit is absorbing locals-only tournaments such as the Maekyung Open.
The golfers have protested against what they call quotas against local players, and a group of about 135 pros announced two weeks ago that they would not compete in three upcoming OneAsia tournaments in South Korea: The SK Telecom Open, the Kolon-Hana Bank Korea Open and the GS Caltex Maekyung Open.
Players have complained that only half the number of South Koreans who normally compete in the tournaments will be able to participate this year. Korean PGA tournaments typically draw up to 100 local golfers.
The Korean Golf Association said 72 South Koreans will compete in the Maekyung Open, which offers $905,000 in prize money. The four-day tournament next month is expected to draw more than 150 players from Australia, China and South Korea.
“We have explained to them that they will not be disadvantaged at the events, but they refused to take part in the tournaments,” said Kim Dong-wook, KGA vice president. “We will keep persuading them, but the upcoming event will be held as scheduled, even if they are absent.”
If the boycott continues, South Korean officials will speak to their counterparts in China and Australia to discuss how to fill the vacancies, he said.
The Seoul Open is in June and the Korea Open in October. South Koreas Y.E. Yang won the tours second event, the China Open, just over a week ago.
