Not since “Yeah, wanna make 14 bucks the hard way” have I wanted to type those three tantalizing words: the hard way. WELL, all things come to an end. I cannot confirm nor deny (since I am lazy) that Rickie Fowler is the only biped to lose playoffs on both the Nationwide and PGA Tours this year, but I anticipate that the odds are in my corner. I can confirm that he was absolutely sweet at Merion, winning a painters cap-load of points in the USA victory over GBI. Fowler has over $500K in his ... full post »

A week back, I wrote an entry on my anticipated fitting with a regional Henry-Griffitts teacher. That is correct and not a typo, a teacher. I was as stumped as you might be, reading this. I visited their website and found one menu item that read “Find a Certified Teacher.” Thanks to a previous photography commitment, I knew that Pennhill Golf Club’s head professional is a certified teacher and clubfitter with H-G. With the next closest teacher some five hours away, the 2 hour drive to visit Corky Buckham in Bradford, Pennsylvania made a whole lot more ... full post »

If the secrecy involving the candidacy of Michael Whan is the good sign that I take it to be, the LPGA is prepared to right the ship that foundered partly thanks to ex-commissioner Bivens and partly thanks to the world economy. I have followed this whole process publicly and, as the Safeway Classic director first stated, the initial time we head the name Michael Whan was at the naming presser. Whan seems to have all the experience needed to run the ship. What I would like to see is a 200% effort made to bring events like Corning back ... full post »

The golf web sites are abuzz with news that Steve Carell, an actor I laugh at but can hardly stand to observe, is in line to play the lead role in Missing Links, one of the five best and funniest fictional golf pieces ever. In what could be the worst miscasting since Matt Damon’s golf swing in “The Legend of Bagger Vance,” Carell as Raymond Lee Hart would continue Hollywood’s tradition of eviscerating great golf novels on the big screen. Hart should be played by a good-looking, 5′10″ guy, not intimidating but definitely strong and athletic. Carell is none ... full post »

Ten years is a long time to hold a grudge. I was 33 years old, awaiting the arrival of the completion of 34, when Payne Stewart’s plane rose then fell. I recall scanning the list of casualties, sorry that I could not recognize the names of the pilots, the agents, the course designer. In those infant days of the internet, when a single phone line was split 3 to 5 ways, we clung to the monitor. Awaiting any news on the matter, it ended the way it had to end, in death and loss and sadness. And something else began that ... full post »

When I was a young’un back in the early 1980s, a certain ad caught my eye. Two gents name of Henry and Griffitts had developed a method for precision fitting a set of golf clubs to any individual golfer. Since I did not have two nickels to rub together back then, I pledged to my own self that I would one day acquire me a set of those fine instruments. Almost three decades later, that day has arrived. This weekend, I will venture to Bradford, Pennsylvania, a mostly two hour jaunt from B-Lo, to the Penn Hills Club. There, ... full post »

Nike has fired off two press releases in the past month concerning new golf shoe lines. The Tour Premium Golf Shoe looks like this and fits snugly around the entire foot with great comfort and flexibility. It is quite eye-catching, as each member of my most recent groupings instinctively inquired, “New shoes, huh?” The shoe has a classic line, with no expected Nike swoosh. I’ve had a few nine-hole rounds in which to test them and I am satisfied enough to include them in my regular rotation of shoes (in other words, they have found a home ... full post »

Caught this as my morning round on Sunday was being canceled by a deluge England’s Anthony Wall was unable to play his singles match against Spaniard Alvaro Quiros on the final day of The Vivendi Trophy with Seve Ballesteros in Paris. Wall had injured his shoulder on Friday afternoon and did not play in either session yesterday, but lengthy physio could not get him fit enough in time. Under the rules of the event - Continental Europe against Great Britain & Ireland - a half was agreed with a player chosen by Continental captain Thomas Bjorn to sit out the singles. Do not call ... full post »

I shall attempt to make concise and salient points. It occurred to me that the Walker Cup mirrors my own forays into golf writing, albeit with one caveat (to be cited later.) Walker Cup golfers, at this stage, are amateur players. With the exception of Nathan Smith on the USA side, their immediate plan is to attempt a professional career at some juncture. In the case of Smith, his career is well established and his need to perform on the glamour stage is nil. He is an excellent weekend golfer, doubtless a member at a ... full post »

To quote Carl Spackler, I have to laugh. He did precisely what I believed he could never, ever justify doing. Greg Norman picked Adam Scott. Somewhere in Mudville, Mighty Casey just struck out, the game went into extra innings, and he struck out again. I am not sure if that analogy even works, nor is it the point. Greg Norman pulled the ultimate homer move. The poor, downtrodden Australian country was given an incredibly random and inexcusable third member of the ROWNE (Rest of World Not Europe) team. Ogilvy isn’t playing particularly well, Allenby has ... full post »

I read a brief news item on one of the other golf sites about whom Greg Norman is considering for ROW (Rest Of World) Presidents Cup picks. Laughably, the pundit mentioned Adam Scott…that was a good one…made my morning lasagna taste even better. Seriously, it is so simple for Greg, almost as simple as winning The Masters with a six-stroke lead…hope he doesn’t blow it again. Here goes: Ryo Ishikawa…why? He’s exciting, entertaining, young, attractive and media-savvy. He’ll get the crowds going like his Japanese counterpart, Shigeki “The Smiling Assassin” Maruyama did a decade ago. Thongchai Jaidee or Jeev ... full post »

UPDATE: Well, I was right on the money with Ben Martin…No win, no Walker Cup. I was half-right with my picks. The USGA got Peter Uihlein and went with Cameron Tringale instead of Van Sickle. Both won two matches at the Am, so that part was a draw. Neither one captured a big amateur event this Summer and MVS went through a massive slump that ultimately proved his undoing. On to Philadelphia. UPDATE: Two big sighs of relief from the blue coats. The kid (Patel) and the Texan lost by a lot (For ... full post »

UPDATE: Bud Cauley loses to David Lingmerth, 2 & 1…all 8 Walker Cuppers are out!! MEANWHILE, Mike Van Sickle wins, 6 & 5…Dan Woltman wins, 7 & 6… Peter Uihlein wins, 2 & 1… Cameron Tringale wins, 1 up… Phillip Mollica wins, 1 up. DO YOU THINK that these guys want to make the USA side just a little bit? I do, too. ORIGINAL ENTRY: Rickie Fowler loses to Bud Cauley, 3 & 1 Brian Harman loses to Chris Ward, 19 holes Morgan Hoffman loses to Charlie Hoffman, 19 holes Nathan Smith loses to Zach Barlow, 2 down Drew Weaver, missed match play by 1 stroke Adam ... full post »

I am going to let you in on a secret: I did not want to test this system. A marketing representative had offered to send me the Sonic Golf Solo system; I decided that no answer was the best answer of all. I had read Mike Bailey’s review on TravelGolf.Com, along with other reviews on competing sites. Imagine my surprise when the box showed up on my desk. “Well, just tuck it over in the corner and they will forget about it.” No such luck… “So, RonMon, how is the Sonic Golf test going?” ... full post »

since you are conjuring up this entire conversation, how about you tell me? –Certainly, Woodsy. I imagine that it is the Padraig Harrington-Henrik Stenson one. –(Tiger laughs, uncomfortably) I’ve got to hand it you, RonMon. Tom from Albany really doesn’t know how smart you are. Why do you think I fear that pairing? –The two of them are European and will feed off each other. And, neither one has to stare you down. You’ll dispose of Y.E. Yang by the 7th hole, but you won’t ever get the chance to give off your vibe to Paddy and ... full post »