Author: Cody Thrasher

Ryder Cup Keys to Victory

The U.S. has struggled mightily in recent Ryder Cups, but there might be light at the end of the tunnel after all.

Thrash TalkThe 36th Ryder Cup is a little over three weeks away, and everyone is already starting to get Ryder Cup fever. The major championships are in the past, and the main focus has shifted towards the Europe/United States grudge match. The European side has won four of the last five despite playing the role of underdog. I guarantee they are the favorites to win this year.

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Give the U.S. Amateur a Chance

A lot of golf fans overlook the U.S. Amateur Championship, but I’m not one of them.

Thrash TalkThe outcome of the PGA Championship this past weekend was pretty clear after three and a half rounds of action, but it was interesting to see who would finish second. Tiger Woods won his 12th major in convincing fashion and is well on his way to 25 for his career. Rees Jones redesigned Medinah after the 1999 PGA Championship, and he needs to do it again. I felt like I was watching the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic.

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2006 PGA Championship Predictions

The Sand Trap staff members attempt to predict the outcome of the season’s final major championship.

Thrash TalkThe season’s final major championship has arrived, and it’s time for predictions. The 2006 majors have all provided great memories, and we can all hope the PGA Championship does as well. The top golfers in the world have victory on their mind, but many others are gunning to make the Ryder Cup team.

Phil Mickelson won The Masters in April, Geoff Ogilvy won the U.S. Open in June, and Tiger Woods won the British Open in July. These three will be in the same pairing for the first two days at Medinah. The PGA Championship winner could very well be one of these three men. A win for any of these golfers would likely solidify their bid for PGA Tour Player of the Year.

What’s a major championship at The Sand Trap without predictions? I was way out in left field with my British Open predictions, but the PGA shall serve up my redemption. I hope you all enjoy the predictions, and if you have anything to add, please comment below or discuss it in the forum.

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Tiger Goes for a Dozen

Can anyone stop Tiger’s roar at Medinah? Don’t bet on it.

Thrash TalkI want to start by congratulating Tiger Woods on his 50th PGA Tour victory. That’s pretty remarkable to say the least. Tiger helped make the Buick Open one of the most exciting tournaments this season. It’s also fun to watch the battle for Ryder Cup points. Vaughn Taylor took a huge step in securing a spot on the team, while Lucas Glover barely missed out on gaining some much-needed points.

All in all, it’s an exciting time to be a golf fan. The battle for the Ryder Cup is heating up, and the season’s final major championship is next week. The PGA Championship returns to Medinah for the first time since the Tiger/Sergio battle in 1999. If this year’s tournament provides as many memories as the 1999 version did, golf fans are in for a treat.

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Bunker’s Dozen: August 2006

Tiger Woods gets the top spot back in this month’s list. Who else makes the Bunker’s Dozen?

Thrash TalkIt’s hard to believe it’s already August. Professional golfers from around the world will be finishing their respective seasons soon. The month of July was a good one for golf fans. Tiger Woods won his 11th major championship, then Corey Pavin won on the PGA Tour. How is that for diversity?

Michelle Wie continued her great play in LPGA Tour events. Wie is limited in the number of events she can play, but she has certainly made the most of her opportunities. Was Wie’s solid July enough to give her the highest female ranking in the Bunker’s Dozen? You will have to keep reading to find out. I hope you enjoy this month’s list!

If you have anything to add, feel free to comment below or discuss it in the forum.

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Steroid Testing in Golf

Is it time to start testing for steroids in golf?

Thrash TalkThe Major League Baseball trade deadline has been dominating the ESPN headlines the past couple weeks. In the past, trade deadline week was one of my favorite times of the year. I was an avid baseball fan like so many other Americans. Oh how the times have changed! Nowadays, the only thing that comes to mind when talking about the MLB is the use of steroids.

The media has completely blown steroid use in Major League Baseball out of the water, possibly for good reason. There will always be the “steroid era” in baseball, but hopefully things will get back to normal with the new testing program. I certainly have better things to watch on television now.

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Major Problem for the Europeans

After watching the British Open, I’m starting to wonder if the Europeans will ever win another major championship.

Thrash TalkAnother major championship is in the books. Tiger Woods won his 11th major championship and continues to close in on Jack’s all-time record. Woods displayed beautiful ball striking and a wonderful putting touch all week. Hoylake also held up a lot better than I expected, especially after seeing all the low rounds on day one. It’s not my favorite Open course, but it wasn’t quite the pushover the experts predicted it would be.

The win by Tiger Woods didn’t really catch my attention because he has been there and done that on numerous occasions. I did, however, get a little teary-eyed when he talked about winning it for his dad. Aside from Tiger’s performance, the thing that stood out to me most was the fact the Europeans still haven’t won a major championship since the 1999 British Open. That was seven years ago for crying out loud!

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2006 British Open Predictions

It’s time for the Sand Trap staff members to make their picks for this week’s British Open.

Thrash TalkIt’s time for the 2006 British Open at Royal Liverpool. Tiger Woods missed his first cut in a major championship as a professional at last month’s U.S. Open. You can bet Tiger will be on a mission this week across the pond. The World Number Two, Phil Mickelson, played great at Winged Foot until double bogeying the final hole to lose by one.

It’s no surprise Tiger and Phil are odds-on-favorites this week at Hoylake. However, there are many more golfers capable of winning the British Open. Geoff Ogilvy won the U.S. Open last month and hasn’t played competitively since. How will his time off affect his golf game, and is he capable of winning two majors in a row?

All the burning questions will be answered within the next week, and The Sand Trap staff is here to get all of you in the British Open spirit. We have made our picks, and now it’s showtime. Feel free to comment below or discuss your picks in the forum.

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British Open Storylines

Here are a few things to get your mind in British Open mode.

Thrash TalkThe John Deere Classic is this week, but who in their right mind is thinking about the event? Michelle Wie will be trying to make her first cut in a men’s event, but that’s old news. The Open Championship is next week, and that’s where my focus is. This year’s British Open has flown under the radar somewhat here in the United States, but that shouldn’t be the case.

There are plenty of great storylines brewing for next week’s major championship at Royal Liverpool. Will Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson get themselves in contention on Sunday? Is Hoylake good enough to host a British Open Championship? These are just a couple of the storylines I’m going to talk about, so sit tight and continue reading.

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