Getting to know Vijay Singh is much like cozying up to a porcupine: unless you’re in the family, it’s tough to get close.
While we might not be able to step into Singh’s world, his clubs have done plenty of talking since he joined the Tour in 1993. He won his first ever PGA Tour event in a playoff over Mark Wiebe and subsequently captured the 1993 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year award. His winning ways have accelerated during the past several years and he has earned himself a permanent place in golf history.
Orlimar at one point was one of the big players in the fairway metal wood market. At courses around the world you could find their clubs in the bags of players of all handicap- and skill levels. Just like everyone else, I hit a few different Orlimar clubs when they were hot.
On October 15 and 16, The Sand Trap .com is holding the initial Newport Cup matches in the sandhills of North Carolina. The competition will be similar to the Ryder Cup (albeit with smaller teams) and should be great fun.
Comparing the professional golfer to the amateur golfer is not an easy thing. Not only do we (amateurs) for the most part play on shorter and easier courses, we do not have the stress of competing in front of thousands of people in person and millions more on TV. Also, amateurs do not have to make a living and survive by hitting that damn white ball into what seems to be a shrinking hole.
For a grueling three days in September twelve European golfers will doggedly defend their right to retain the venerable Solheim Cup for another two year stretch. Twelve equally determined LPGA golfers will attempt to unseat the Europeans as guardians of the Waterford Crystal trophy.
Vijay Singh will be teeing it up just one week after withdrawing from the Deutsche Bank Championship due to a back injury. Singh hurt his back while playing table tennis with his son. He was scheduled to defend his title last week, and the same can be said about the Canadian Open this week. Singh comes into the week ranked second in the world rankings behind Tiger Woods. He is also second on the PGA Tour money list behind Tiger. Singh has four victories on the PGA Tour in 2005 and will be the odds-on favorite this week as well.
With the President’s Cup just two weeks away, the Ryder Cup is the event that has been getting the golf world’s attention the past couple weeks. 2006 European captain Ian Woosnam is worried his team won’t be as strong as it possibly could be for the 2006 matches at the K Club. As it currently stands, the European participants must play in 11 European Tour sanctioned events to qualify for the team. The 11 events, however, can include all four major championships and the World Golf Championship events.
Sure, the calendar still reads September 2005. But from a golf equipment perspective, let’s agree that the 2006 model year is off to a brisk and early start. How is it that some of next year’s hottest clubs are already in golf shops by Labor Day?
Happy Labor Day, all. I don’t know where you’re at, but in Washington DC, the weather is beautiful. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to get on the course this weekend, but hopefully family obligations and warm Bud Light haven’t prevented the rest of you from the ol’ hit-and-chase.