For all those who missed watching the Skins Game this past weekend, you may never see Tiger Woods so out of character unless you are fortunate enough to accompany him on a social round down at Isleworth. He was really enjoying himself and his playing partners to the point that I have to believe he had some input into their selection. Fred Couples was the defending champion and an automatic pick. But it is no secret that Tiger enjoys playing with Freddie as much apparently everybody else on Tour also does and wanted him to be his partner throughout the Presidents ... full post »

In my lifetime there has never been a more talented and promising female golfer than Michelle Wie. Some would argue that there may never have been a more talented 16 year-old golfer, regardless of gender. But it is hard to make that argument because Wie has chosen a path unlike any other teenage wunderkind in memory because she doesn’t play against her peers, and her peers have never played against the professional competition anywhere near the extent that Wie does. Based on her play against LPGA fields, it says here that her talent level is already amongst the top 10 women ... full post »

Every year at this time many golf columns are filled with criticism of the golf events after the Tour Championship. The most common tag applied to these events is “the silly season". For some reason golf pundits look down on challenge formats and save their strongest venom for the Skins Game. As these arranged matches are exactly the ones played by us, the mortal golfers of the world, my question is: what’s wrong with the best players in the world playing these games? Because they make it look too easy? No, the problem is with the broadcast. If TV executives could ... full post »

The pro-am flu has struck Phil Mickelson again. First, he missed the Tour Championship reportedly because he couldn’t make the pro-am too. So, in light of the PGA Tour rule of “no pro-am, no play", he dropped the tournament altogether. I don’t necessarily blame him for that one because the tournament is just about money anyway and I think the brother already has plenty of discretionary income. But this time he says it’s due to “family obligations.” Somehow I get the feeling that if it were a practice round for one of the Majors, he would’ve managed to work around the ... full post »

David Duval’s story is so well known, it’s bears no purpose to recount in agonizing detail. In short, he was a college hotshot who came on Tour and played very well right off the bat. But he had this little problem to get over: he couldn’t close the deal and win. (I wonder if this sounds familiar to the Wie-Warriors?) High finish after high finish, he would have to endure the question from the press: Why aren’t you winning? Common perception amongst the players was that this kid was so good, once he figures it out, the wins will ... full post »

What shouldn’t get lost in all of this hubbub between Paula Creamer and Annika Sorenstam over a ruling on the 18th hole yesterday is the way Paula Creamer sees herself. Compare it to the way Grace Park indifferently observed the Wie-gate incident at the Samsung tournament. I think it indicates that she sees herself as Annika’s equal and ultimately taking over the number one spot. She believes she’ll be beating her soon and is watching her through a different pair of eyes, much like how Muhammad Ali looked at George Foreman when the entire world thought Foreman was ... full post »

Hello, World. I am Shanks. Perhaps this introduction is not quite as dramatic as Tiger Woods first press conference as a pro back in 1997, but you get the idea. Actually, I am the second Shanks. My Dad was the original and we greeted each other with that nickname for almost as long as I can remember. But he is gone now, existing only as a warm and enduring memory. The genesis of the nickname shall remain a treasured secret, just for me. Other than a very few forays to the driving range and miniature golf course, my golfing ... full post »