For those of you who missed it, Golf Digest excerpted an interesting section of Butch Harmon’s book, “The Pro: Lessons from my Father About Golf and Life.” Harmon, Tiger Woods‘ old swing coach, said he believes Woods revamped his swing because he was jealous that other players were catching up to, and even surpassing, his prodigious distance off the tee. Harmon believed it was the equipment because the ones catching up to him were using longer, graphite shafts and bigger club heads. “But, I think overhauling his golf swing was a mistake when putting a new driver in the bag would have done ... full post »

Carolyn Bivens may be the worst sports commisioner of all-time. Talk about trying to kill the goose that laid the golden egg. She took over the LPGA when it was arguably at an all-time high. It’s still there, in spite of the fact she’s doing everything she can to send it back from whence it came – namely, the Stone Age. She’s managed to offend nearly everyone involved in women’s golf, and many who aren’t. Even mild-mannered Annika Sorenstam and Dottie Pepper. If she won’t resign, the LPGA needs to fire her and find somebody else. Look for the full column on this ... full post »

A reader named Mike wrote in to say he’s a “poor college student” visiting Myrtle Beach and wants to play three rounds, keeping green fees between $150-$200. He also has a friend who “isn’t very good” and doesn’t want to spend much. Mike, we here at TravelGolf.com, most of us having been poor college students ourselves, can relate (especially this guy. So here are my opinions. You mentioned The Witch, Tiger’s Eye, Thistle and Heritage, River’s Edge, Oyster Bay and Diamondback. What do you need me for? Those are all good courses. Thistle is one of my favorites, both for the course ... full post »

I’m going to keep my driver in the bag. I’m going to be like Tiger. Who would have ever thought we’d be saying “course management” and “Tiger Woods” in the same sentence. The long-ball monster turning into a Punch and Judy singles hitter? The guy keeps the big stick in the holster and still wins the British Open, nearly going away. Of course, the course called for a little restraint and with Woods spraying his driver lately, it was a smart move. The fact he could take away one of his main strengths and still dominate the field says a lot about ... full post »

Just when I thought Tiger Woods had lost his ability to amaze and awe, he comes up with more. In his storied career, Woods has been known mostly as a power player. Yes, he has all the other facets of the game, but he could always be counted on to blast it over whatever trouble might befall lesser hitters. Now, he’s leading the British Open after two rounds and he has hit driver exactly once. Now, it’s true that his driver hasn’t exactly been laser-straight lately, and that is almost certainly a big reason why he’s been leaving it in the ... full post »

Listen all ye men of England: We have place names for a reason. It’s the “BRITISH Open,” all you snobby Anglophiles. Not “The Open.” Forget about all those Brits who insist everyone call it “The Open.” Like England and its tournament is the only “Open” in the world, for Christ’s sake. It’d be like me starting my own golf tournament and calling it “The Tournament.” Rather than “The Tim Tournament.” See, this is to distinguish it from, for example, the “U.S. Open.” Or, The “Scottish Open.” Or, the “Australian Open.” There is no good rationale for calling it simply “The Open” other than England’s ... full post »

Myrtle Beach golf course Cypress Bay, originally due to close in May, will stay open through the end of the year and maybe even through the spring of 2007, according to Myrtle Beach Online. The course was sold by its original owners to a group of local businessmen, who like so many others, have plans to redevelop the land and turn it into housing. Plans call for 1,000 housing units, to be called Cypress Commons. The course is a popular Russell Breeden design in Little River, though its had financial problems over the years. full post »

Can’t wait for the first two rounds at the British Open, when Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods are paired up. Two legends from different eras who aren’t exactly the best of buds. Faldo, of course, won three British Opens when he was in his prime, and has taken some shots at Woods from his broadcast booth, as is certainly his right. Woods doesn’t forget these things. The guy’s got rabbit ears and a long memory. Faldo’s already making excuses, saying he hasn’t had enough time to prepare to take on Woods. News flash, Nick: at your age, you don’t have enough ... full post »

What was it in Silvis, Illinois Friday – 88 degrees? With fairly low humidity? Now, I have all the sympathy in the world for Michelle Wie, and I’m not exactly saying she’s a sissy, but down here in Florida that kind of weather is like a lovely spring day. What’s she going to do when she plays in the Deep South in July? Or Arizona? Wie withdrew from the John Deere Classic Friday afternoon – with no chance of making the cut – due to “stomach pains associated with heat,” according to television station USA officials. She was carted off in an ... full post »

What was it in Silvis, Illinois Friday – 88 degrees? With fairly low humidity? Now, I have all the sympathy in the world for Michelle Wie, and I’m not saying she’s a sissy, but down here in Florida that kind of weather is like a lovely spring day. What’s she going to do when she plays in the Deep South in July? Or Arizona? Wie withdrew from the John Deere Classic Friday afternoon – with no chance of making the cut – due to “stomach pains associated with heat,” according to television station USA officials. She was carted off in an ambulance ... full post »

I’m not sure what to make of 70-year-old Bob Charles making the cut at last week’s U.S. Senior Open and eventually finishing in a tie for 47th. On one hand, it says a lot about the game that a 70-year old man can still be competitive. One of the great things about golf is you can play it well almost literally to the day you die. On the other hand, what does it say about the competitiveness of the champions Tour? The average life span in the U.S. is about 70, and instead of being at his funeral, this guy is making ... full post »

Allow me to point out the difference between shameless self-promotion and circumspect, dignified marketing. Barry and Stacy Solomon, in their blog for TravelGolf, crow about their “recognition” by The Journal News. The Solomons never informed their readers, but The Journal News is a Gannett Company newspaper in White Plains, N.Y. with a circulation of around 140,000, according to the Audit Bureau of Circulations. Using a lame qualifier at the beginning – telling us upfront that what follows is “shameless self promotion” – does not soften the fact that what follows is indeed shameless self promotion, ending with “Stay tuned as ... full post »

Allen Doyle made a little joke about how the USGA wouldn’t be particularly overjoyed at seeing him win the U.S. Seniors Open, which prompted a USGA flak to get on the air and get all teary-eyed about how much it loves Allen Doyle. Talk about a preemptive strike. He was right, though. The USGA would much rather have seen Tom Watson win. Watson represents what the august golf bodies believe golfers should look and act like: a true gentleman of the sport. Doyle is the antithesis of that – a big, raw-boned palooka, a former hockey player, with a swing straight ... full post »

I have a strong feeling the emotional tide is turning against Michelle Wie. I base this on empiric and anecdotal evidence. Believe it or not, I was once a Wie fan. Now, I’m not, because of her continued excuses when she loses, the preferential treatment she receives, her obvious public relations bent, her inflated world ranking and, well, I could go on and on. I know this isn’t simple gender bias, because I know several females who feel the same. Once Wie fans, they now are pretty sick of her act. She never gets beat, she just has “bad breaks,” that are ... full post »