Bunker’s Dozen: April 2008

Tiger Woods and Lorena Ochoa battle for the top spot on this month’s list.

Thrash TalkThe Bunker’s Dozen is making its long-awaited return after being absent for the past year. Right now, there are two dominant forces in golf. Tiger Woods is on another great run on the PGA Tour and Lorena Ochoa is completely dominating the LPGA Tour.

Tiger has won four of the five events he has entered in 2008, and Ochoa has won three of the four she has entered so far this season. These two battle for the top spot in this month’s ranking, but who else will find a spot in the April edition of Bunker’s Dozen? Read on to find out. If you have anything to add, please comment below or discuss it in the forum.

Golf Talk [Episode 083]

Spring is here! Spring is here! It’s the week of The Masters and the Par Three tournament is even going to be televised!

Golf Talk PodcastLorena wins her second consecutive major, Johnson Wagner punches his ticket to Augusta, and we preview the Masters. What more needs to be said? Okay, a little, and it’s all in this week’s Golf Talk.

You can subscribe to the RSS feed for our podcasts here or download Episode 083 as an MP4 file. For those who want to subscribe to us in iTunes, click here.

For this week’s Show Notes – links to articles we discuss in the show and additional information – just read on.

Odds and Ends

Bag Drop goes all over the map this week to get you some equipment news.

Bag DropIt’s been pretty quiet the past few days on the equipment front, but don’t worry, I’ve got a few releases, stories, and opinions to hold you over during Masters Week.

This week’s Bag Drop takes a hodgepodge look at some newer releases, driver shaft adjustability, an equipment maker in bankruptcy and the lowly wedge grind – it’s worth looking into, you’ll see.

Volume One Hundred Thirty Nine

The Masters is here!!!

Hittin' the LinksHello and good day to you from Hittin’ the Links. Do you feel it? Spring has officially sprung now that it’s Masters Week. I don’t know about you, but for me it’s time to find something for the wife and kids to do this Sunday, so the final round can be watched in peace and quiet.

With it being Masters week, HTL is sporting several links about the tournament. In addition, we look at what Azinger said about his opponent, see why teaching pros do what they do, and check on what Monty is mad about now. Also in this addition, we investigate golf vacations, see where Davis Love III will be spending this weekend, and peruse the winners of this week’s tour events. Read on!

Nine Holes with the Masters

Nine things to ponder and watch for at the 2008 Masters Tournament.

ProfilesThe Masters Tournament is upon us again, and anticipation is running high. Most of us will spend at least a portion of the Masters sitting in front of our TVs, making many of the same comments we made last year about how pleasing to the eye an immaculately kept golf course is when set against azaleas and pines. We’ll marvel at putts that seem to roll forever. And we’ll dream of seeing the course in person (to play it might be too much to even hope).

It’s not a perfect place, though. Such places don’t exist. At Augusta, there’s the inherent stratification of society made obvious by an elite country club, not to mention issues of color and gender, both past and present.

But for all of that, the tournament is an annual rite of Spring, promising warmer days and brighter skies to those in colder parts of the world. And it’s arguably the most popular tournament of the year.

With all its history and tradition, I’m continually learning new things about the Masters Tournament and Augusta National. For instance, did you know that there’s only one hole on the course that doesn’t feature a bunker? Chinese Fir, #14, is a beachless stretch of perfect turf. Or that the first Masters included four international players: two pros from England, one Canadian, and one English amateur? Did you know that alterations to the course have been taking place for its entire history?

LPGA Tour Questions for 2008

The LPGA Tour’s stock continues to rise in 2008.

Thrash TalkThe 2008 LPGA Tour season is in full swing, and things are off to a great start. There have only been five events so far, and Lorena Ochoa, Annika Sorenstam, and Paula Creamer each have at least one win already. That’s a great sign for the LPGA Tour because all three are among the most marketable in the women’s game.

The season’s first major championship, the Kraft Nabisco, starts today. This event was very exciting the past two seasons, and it should be highly competitive again this year. With the first major on the horizon, it’s time to ask a few LPGA Tour questions for 2008. Keep reading to find out what I have to say about Lorena Ochoa, Paula Creamer, Michelle Wie, and more.

Golf Talk [Episode 082]

Tiger ends his winning streak, but Lorena keeps hers going, winning for the first time in 2008.

Golf Talk PodcastTiger loses to Ogilvy, Kraft wins the consolation prize, Romero wins on the PGA Tour and Lorena on the LPGA Tour, Michelle Wie hurts her wrist (again), Bubba explodes, and a whole lot more in this week’s Golf Talk.

You can subscribe to the RSS feed for our podcasts here or download Episode 082 as an MP4 file. For those who want to subscribe to us in iTunes, click here.

For this week’s Show Notes – links to articles we discuss in the show and additional information – just read on.

Cobra Golf Releases Pro MB and Pro CB Irons

Think Cobra Golf doesn’t have irons for you better golfers? Think again.

Bag DropUp to this point, nothing in the current irons lineup from the folks at Cobra Golf did much for me as they seemed to fit more in the game improvement category and were also a bit “busy” looking for my taste.

With input gathered from their Tour staff, we now have some irons for the better golfer in mind with the introduction of the Pro CB and Pro MB irons. These new additions look more up my alley. I’m not saying I’m good enough to play either, but they pass my “do they look nice” test.

Just how good are these new offerings? JB Holmes used a set of Pro CBs to win the FBR Open (hitting over 70% of greens in regulation) and Geoff Ogilvy used a set of Pro MBs to win the WGC-CA Championship (and was #1 in GIR) just a couple of weeks ago. I would say these new irons are off to a pretty great start.

Let’s take a look.