What was the PGA of America thinking when it changed the point system for qualifying for the Ryder Cup? Admittedly the new one is an improvement over the woeful old system, but that is the equivalent of saying that robbery is better than armed robbery. Yes, it helped that the points are multiplied for current year performances but the other fundamental flaws of the old system was retained: points are only awarded for top 10 finishes. What that means is that an 11th place finish in the Masters – or any tournament, for that matter – has the same value ... full post »

Jim Furyk played a magical shot during the Open Championship that TV commentator Peter Alliss said was “the greatest links shot I’ve ever seen.” And that is a pretty strong commendation coming from a UK man who was a terrific player in his days before announcing golf telecasts. Furyk was stymied in a greenside bunker and made the unbelievable decision to putt the ball out. Now, this is not your run-of-the-mill, small-lipped, municipal course sand trap were talking about here. This was from a revetted, seaside links bunker that is a real hazard. So, with his heart in his throat ... full post »

Dear Lord, I would really like for there to be peace in the world, if it be your will. Really. But what I would like to happen as soon as possible after that is for gambling on golf to be allowed where I live, just like they do in the UK. Amen. One of the best things going is to have a little cheese wagered on a golfer – preferably a 10 to 1 payoff or better - who is in contention on the final day of a Major Tournament. I’ve made a few wagers through legal avenues, including gambling establishments like ... full post »

The very popular Natalie Gulbis felt the agonizing sting of a defeat wrenched from likely victory at the Jamie Farr Classic. It is impossible to fault someone who, when starting Sunday in a tie for the lead, shoots a bogey-free, 6-under-par 65 which tied the low round of the tournament. She had the overwhelming support of the crowd and even a few of her fellow Tour golfers rooting for her to win. Yet somehow it wasn’t good enough. Tenacious little Mi Hyun Kim mirrored that 65 and then poured in an 18-footer on the 3rd playoff hole, which Gulbis could ... full post »

If all we ever wanted to know was who has played consistently well for the past two years, the Rolex World Rankings for Women would do nicely. But, guess what? That’s not what we want to know. What we want to know is how players are performing relative to each other now. That should not be gauged over two years. The rankings should be more responsive to current performances. And these rankings surely don’t properly reflect winning. Some examples of the inequities are Se Ri Pak and Pat Hurst being ranked immediately behind Morgan Pressel. Who in their right mind would ... full post »