If you are planning on attending the 2010 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach Golf Links, you have to apply for tickets at the USGA site and then close your eyes and pray for the best (sort of like when you tee off on a water hole). But those in the know – or perhaps those in the dough – who have an American Express card can snatch up tickets starting TODAY! You can even use American Express Membership Rewards points. Head to the American Express website for more information. Tickets are available through June 21st. Those of us without Amex cards, well, ... full post »

This is what happens when your family wants dinner! I decide to concede The Masters to Kenny Perry so I could go cook spaghetti, and all hell breaks loose. Sigh… If there’s any consolation for being wrong most of the time, as I am when it comes to this tournament, it seems, is that on the bigger prediction of who would eventually win, I was actually right. Of course, so was my irascible yet esteemed colleague Ron Mon. Congrats, Angel! You are a two-time major winner. (Just be sure to check your scorecard before signing it!) full post »

Congrats to Kenny Perry! After that wonderful shot on 16, he deserves the green jacket. Even though one of the big names didn’t win, for the first time in several years, I’m actually looking forward to next year’s Masters. full post »

So wrong once again. It was not Arnie-n-Jack-like. One of those two guys would have won it. Poor decisions and poor execution on the last couple of holes cost both Tiger and Phil. On the bright side for Phil, he did beat Tiger. Still some golf yet to play, though. More than one Masters champ-wannabe has started spewing oil on the last few holes. Perry’s looking pretty solid, though, and Cabrera can still make some stuff happen, as long as he stays loose. full post »

Advantage Mickelson after the drive on 17. Cabrera is chomping on his gum like…well…like a guy who quit smoking last year, which he did. Good for him (but I bet he wishes he still smoked). On 17, Phil’s got a very makeable birdie putt. Oh, and Kenny Perry just canned a birdie on 12 to get to -12. The old guy’s still got a shot at the capstone of his long and distinguished career. If Perry doesn’t hook one here on 13…wow–outstanding. Good job to Steve Flesch, who’s battled injuries and his own temper over the years. There are precious few better ball-strikers ... full post »

The 16th…wow, what a great shot by Tiger. Phil’s got a tough act to follow there… Not bad, but advantage Tiger here. We could see the #1 & #2 players in the world tied going into the 17th. Ooh..Phil didn’t hit that putt at all. Ugh. Oh no, Kenny Perry missed another birdie putt, and almost hit Cabrera’s caddie when he flung his misbehaving putter. Tiger makes this, and…well…two holes might, MIGHT decide the championship… full post »

Phil just blasted a drive on 15 well past Tiger’s tee shot, and Jim Nantz sounded surprised. The distance in Lefty’s game isn’t some new innovation, however. Back seven years ago, at the Par 3 Shootout, Lee Trevino was watching Mickelson warm-up the second morning, when he turned to us few reporters who made our way out to the course before the pro-am, and said, “There is no one who hits the driver farther than Phil. Not even Tiger. I could watch him hit that thing all day.” It’s not just the muscle I commented on yesterday. Phil’s always been one ... full post »

Step away for a couple minutes to fetch a beer and some chips, and Phil washes one on 12. Geez. Kenny Perry’s putter is looking shaky. And Furyk just fluffed a chip…and a bunker shot. (Though I’m sure some contrary reader will comment that it was all par to Furyk’s brilliant grand plan.) And my pick to win, Angel Cabrera, shanked an approach earlier. Now Tiger’s eagle putt on 13…JUST a bit outside. Still, as with most of my predictions, my call that Tiger wouldn’t any flavor to Sunday’s round was woefully off. Sigh…sort of like my own golf game of late. full post »

Someone asked me yesterday, what my inspiration is for writing. (OK, it was really just my cat.) The answer was my new friend Mike Purkey, whose “TV Rewind” column in Golf World is one of the most widely read features of that fine magazine. We who watch TV for a living must stick together. Back to golf… Does anyone else think that Tiger has started looking grumpier since siring two cubs? Fatherhood does tend to sap one’s patience, after all. Peter Kostis just NOW realized that pairings featuring Chad Campbell and Kenny Perry are lacking in energy? Huh, who would have thunk ... full post »

Once again, golf is fun to watch because even the best hit shots like I do now and then. Case in point, Phil’s hooked driver into the woods and punch out through the trees that ALMOST made it onto the green. “Right idea, Phil.” How many times have I told myself, “Right idea,” when something didn;t quite work out? Although it might sound like I’m not a fan of Kenny Perry, I do infact admire the tempo of his swing very much. I wish I could slow down that much in my transition. Now, for Phil’s bunker shot. If there’s anyone ... full post »

Furyk missed that long par putt from the get-go. Phil’s got a knee-knocker for a birdie on No. 8. If Tiger makes this eagle, things will really get interesting… Whoa! That thing dove in the cup like a homesick gopher. OK, Phil. You gonna answer? Yes!! OK, now we’re talking Arnie-n-Jack-like! full post »

“Anything you can do, I can do better. Anything I can do better than you. No you can’t! (Yes I can!) No you can’t! (Yes I can!)” Is this song going through anyone else’s head, watching Phil and Tiger today? The last couple of times these guys went head-to-head, it was a bit anti-climactic. Today, it feels almost Arnie-n-Jack-like. OK–what’s with all the commercials? I thought that limiting the numebr of sponsors resulted in fewer commercial breaks that just went on a bit longer. We’ve seen all of three shots between the last two commercial breaks. I pissed off my family by declining ... full post »

“The roars are back at Augusta on Sunday.” That’s like music to my ears. The last few years, it has been snores at Augusta on Sunday. Another reason to cheer is Phil Mickelson’s promotion of math and science education. When wearing a completely different hat, I actually do research on why it is that between 25%-50% of college students get algebraic word problems like the following wrong: “The Johnsons have lots of tulips and daisies in their flower shop. The number of tulips is six times the number of daisies. Using T to represent the number of tulips, and D to represent the ... full post »

Hello all, and welcome to round 4. Just in time for Phil Mickelson’s amazing recovery shot on No. 7. Holy Smokin’ Moses! That almost went in. Phil might have a chance after all. Tiger is going to have to claw his way in, but I just don’t think the putter is there for him. He’ll miss on 7 by 3 feet, I bet…or he’ll almost make it. This is going to be a GREAT final round! full post »

Oops…sorry. I dozed off for a bit. I think the dulcet tones of Jim Nantz’s voice have grown even more sotto voce. Sort of tuning himself to the riveting pairing of Perry and Campbell. YAWN. Any-who. It was just confirmed that Tiger and Phil will be paired together tomorrow. Let us hope that they push one another to do amazing things, rather than be all moody and quiet. It might be the first Masters ever in which the most entertaining, interesting play is six groups ahead of the leaders. Via con dios, Angel! Gambatte-yo, Shingo! Hang loose, Jim! Ya, ya know, don’t get ... full post »

Oh my! Chad Campbell just left one in the bunker! You see, this is why I love golf. Now and then, I can hit shots that are just as good as the pros’. And now and then, they his shots that are just as bad as mine. No other sport that I can think of is like golf in this respect. And, just as an aside, golf is different from all other sports: No other sport has such a small target, such a small ball, and such a huge stadium. But I like it because now and then, every golfer–no ... full post »

Anthony Kim had 11 birdies in yesterday’s round. Hey, Augusta National powers-that-be: Time to AK-proof the course! I admire David Feherty, and tremendously enjoy his humor during normal tournament coverage. So it is sad to me that he is so deadly dull during The Masters. Of course, it’s not his fault – he doesn’t want to be banished like his buddy Gary McCord. Still, without that legendary rapier wit, he’s just another announcer with a cute accent. Gambatte-yo, Katayama-san! Dai suki-desu! full post »

I heard Jim Furyk is selling his Maui estate for $7.7 million. Given the economy, I was sort of wondering if maybe some of his investments had gone south, and if that might be the reason for the sale. If he wins The Masters and takes the house back off the market, I guess we’ll know for sure. You know, if I were coming down the 18th on the final day, tied with Furyk for the lead, I think I might offer to three putt in exchange for the house. I’ve always wanted to live in Hawa’ii. Wonder if he’d take the ... full post »

News flash! Chad Campbell is “taking his time with his club selection.” Here’s a little joke for you: Q: What does Chad Campbell say when he rides on the back of a tortoise? A: Wheee!! Get it? full post »

I should know the answer to this next question, but I don’t. So I’m appealing to your collective knowledge out there: Is there a traditional drink at The Masters? The Kentucky Derby has the Mint Julep. The Open Championship (a.k.a. the British Open) has claret (or a jug for claret, anyway). The FBR Open has cheap beer. Any insights? What goes well with pimento loaf sandwiches? I’m pouring a vodka and lime, and I’m going to give the question some serious thought. full post »

Steve Stricker is a darn nice guy. I ran into him after last year’s British Open, at a gas station in Beloit, Wisconsin. Stricker was on is way home after flying into Chicago. We were both heading the same way, and were trying to figure out how to circumvent a miles-long traffic back-up on the interstate. Stricker turned in a solid T-7 at The 2008 Open Championship, and has the game to pull down a major. But, as we’ve seen earlier this year, he is also capable of giving a title away on the last day. No matter what, though, Stricker’s ... full post »

So what’s wrong with Tiger? Knee? Fatigue? Pressure? Putter? Or the uncharacteristically ugly shirts he’s been wearing so far? Well, he just parred 18, so he’s in at -4. Seems like a stretch. I predict he won’t figure into the mix at all tomorrow. He’ll be like baking soda in waffle mix: It has to be there to be just right, but you can’t taste it. full post »

Some early random thoughts on The 2009 Masters: Phil Mickelson has put on some serious muscle. Some folks in the golf world have made snide comments abotu Phil’s physique for years. He’ll never be as ripped as Tiger, but this year, you can see some serious definition in his upper arms, icluding the triceps brachii, which I’d never noticed on him before. Plus, his arms just look big. Tim Clark won the Par 3 contest, and we were immediately informed by everyone that that no one has ever won the Par 3 and the real tourney in the same year. To me ... full post »

A tradition unlike any other: Me getting paid to watch T.V. That’s right, it’s time for The Masters again, the major that does to apostrophes what Augusta National does to women members. Seriously, no matter what your commitment to golf, if you appreciate the game at all, this is a special time of year. So without futher ado let us embark on two days of live blogging… I’ll begin with an observation: If Chad Campbell wins this thing, he might just kill The Masters. I mean, I’ve seen guys get more animated over their morning BM than he does over birdies at Augusta. ... full post »

I have a drawer-full of lapel pins. Office of Homeland Security. Special Olympics. Some town in China known for panda bears. It is not completely clear how I got all these pins, but I do remember that my father has always been under the impression that I collect them. So these things have been accumulating since I was about eight years old. The problem is that I don’t wear any more clothes with lapels now than I did when I was eight. So I never know what to do with all these tiny pieces of man-jewelry. A few months ago, when ... full post »