TravelGolf has broken all the rules of golf-writing the last few days by not mentioning—not once all week—Tiger Woods. Well, I guess if nobody’s gonna do it, I’d better step up. Lucky for me, Tiger just made it very easy by weighing in on a topic dear to my heart: sponsor exemptions for Michelle Wie. With Michelle’s poor Sunday performance at the U.S. Women’s Open, the question has come up yet again, this time in dueling columns on ESPN.com. On the one hand, Bob Harig says she should “learn how to win” by returning to junior tournaments (which she hasn’t played in ... full post »

Annika’s chances at the Grand Slam are looking a little less certain, after her bogey, bogey, bogey finish yesterday. She ended up +4, leaving her six strokes behind unlikely leader Nicole Perrot of Chile. Still, she seems unfazed. In her post-round interview, she said, “Thirty-six holes is a lot of golf left. Six strokes is nothing.” She just might be right. Remember Tiger Woods at the Masters? With a record-breaking seven straight birdies to take the lead from Chris DiMarco, he showed that six strokes is nothing, indeed. Paula Creamer was up and down yesterday, and not the good kind. She started out ... full post »

The top story is, of course, the top of the leaderboard. As of this writing, that spot is currently taken by amateur Brittany Lang, a 19-year-old Blue Devil from McKinney, Texas. Could we end up with another Se Ri Pak/Jenny Chuasiriporn playoff, a la 1998? In that infamous incident, Blue Devil Chausiriporn set the record for the lowest total ever by an amateur (290) yet still lost in a playoff to Se Ri Pak. Could this be Duke’s year? All-American Brittany is showing all kinds of poise, as befits an NCAA champion, but I have to ask, what’s up with the ... full post »

Michael Campbell didn’t just win a giant trophy on Sunday. He also took home $1,125,000, exempt status on the PGA Tour for the next five years, invitations to the next five Masters, British Opens, Players Championships, and PGA Championships, and invitations to the next ten U.S. Opens. That’s just gotta take some of the pressure off. He also, with this win, almost doubled his career earnings, and won himself a spot in the hearts of many golfing Americans, mine included. But now the Open is over, and I find myself suffering from a bit of withdrawal. No worries, there’s another one this weekend. ... full post »

Chris Baldwin’s on the warpath again. He’s taking a break from ranting about Stallion Mountain and now he’s after me instead. For whatever reason, my giant crush on Retief Goosen has really gotten his panties in a wad. Jealous, maybe? But turns out he does have a point: he did indeed suggest that Retief might do well at the Open back in April. And unlike me, he didn’t hide his light under a bushel, he let it shine for all the world to see. Very impressive call, Chris. Maybe you’re not the idiot everyone says you are! So tell us, Chris, surely with ... full post »

A couple of days before the Open, a fellow TravelGolfer asked me my pick. “Tiger Woods is the obvious answer,” I replied, “but that Retief Goosen. He’s really something. He’s the defending champion and all. He’s got something to prove. I guess I’d go with Retief.” Now three days into the tournament, I’m looking like a genius. But I have a confession to make. I didn’t pick Retief because of his stats. I picked him because I have a giant crush on him. My husband finds it amusing. He asked me on Thursday, when I almost swooned after watching Retief hole out, “is ... full post »

I had a great time the other day chatting with Roc and Manuch on their Calling All Sports radio show (ESPN Radio’s Phoenix affiliate). The conversation? Annika versus Danica. Why does Danica, with one big race to her name, get all that press, while Annika, the most dominant woman golfer ever, doesn’t? The question is just begging to be asked, and not just because their names rhyme. Here’s my take: Danica’s hot stuff right now because not only did she make history, the first woman to ever lead the Indy 500, eventually placing fourth, but because her doing so is making people ... full post »

Calling All Sports fans! Yours Truly will be a guest today on ESPN Radio’s Phoenix affiliate, ESPN 860, on the Calling All Sports with Roc and Manuch show. You can listen from the comfort of your own browser at On Air Sports. Show starts at 2 pm Phoenix time (that’s 5 pm Eastern if you don’t feel like doing the math). Topic of the day: Annika versus Danica. Should be interesting. full post »

It’s been a whirlwind weekend. Annika swept the McDonald’s LPGA Championship, making her the first LPGA player ever to three-peat a major. She has declared that this year’s goal is the elusive Grand Slam. Now she’s halfway there, and she’s shown that she can pretty much dominate at will. Is the Grand Slam in any doubt? Meanwhile, who was 2 (not T2, mind you. Just 2)? That would be Michelle Wie, the player many LPGA members didn’t think should be there in the first place. Now we see why—who would want to go up against her? She was the only one ... full post »

And speaking of the McDonald’s LPGA Championship Presented by Coca-Cola, here’s one for you that falls in the “unintentional comedy” category: Ronald McDonald is now a fitness guru, promoting fitness among kids. I wonder why they didn’t go with, say, Cookie Monster? Or even better, Fat Albert? Can you say “fox in the henhouse”? Hey kids! Good job running those laps! Why dontcha cool off now with a large chocolate shake? First exercise, then super-size! But hey, if McDonald’s can revamp their image, I’m guessing anyone can. Even, say, the LPGA. Chris Baldwin, in his latest newsletter musings, has declared that “there’s ... full post »

It’s shaping up to be a great week in women’s golf. Why? Because the LPGA Championship—oops, I mean the McDonald’s LPGA Championship Presented by Coca-Cola, will be played this weekend. Normally that wouldn’t cause such a big blip on my golf radar, but this one’s a little different, for several reasons. 1. It’s a major. It might be quite a mouthful, with BOTH “McDonald’s” and “Coca-Cola” in it, but it’s still a major. I wonder if there’s room to add one more sponsor to the title. Why not? How about the McDonald’s LPGA Championship Presented by Coca-Cola and Supported ... full post »

Tired of sandbaggers blowing the curve in your golf tournaments? Well I just read the latest Golf for Women magazine, and received the most useful tip I’ve ever gotten from a magazine: how to verify handicaps. That’s right, you can go to the USGA’s Golf Handicap & Information Network, punch in the suspected sandbagger’s name and state, and find out if what they claim as their handicap is the real thing. If you can’t find your man at the GHIN, golfnetonline.net provides the same service. My husband played in a big tourney not long ago, and was frustrated to no end when ... full post »