Author: Guest Author

EDS Byron Nelson Championship Preview

Defending champion Ted Purdy will have plenty of competition at this weeks EDS Byron Nelson Championship, but that won’t include Tiger Woods or Phil Mickelson.

Byron Nelson ClassicFlash back to Sunday, May 15, 2005. I’m glued to the TV watching fellow Arizona native and good guy Ted Purdy come from two back and shoot a 5-under 65 to beat rookie Sean O’Hair by one and win his first PGA Tour title. Just two days before that (on Friday the 13th no less), Tiger Woods actually missed a cut for the first time since 1998. A streak that lasted with 142 events and beat the previous record of 113 held by Mr. Byron Nelson himself. Anyone for superstitions?

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Volume Fifty-Eight

Volume Fifty-Eight of this fine weekly article.

Hittin' The LinksThis week, I’ve wrangled up a hodgepodge of links from topics ranging from John Daly’s book to the passing of Earl Woods and grass that doesn’t need to be cut. Although the topics seem random, they all share one thing in common: they’re worth a look. So let’s get started…

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Wachovia Championship Preview

Tiger Woods will be missed this week but with 10 of the top 11 players in the world playing this weekend, you shouldn’t be disappointed.

Wachovia ChampionshipWe’ve talked several times in the forum and in our Podcasts about whether or not one player choked or the other won but in last year’s Wachovia we definately saw Sergio choke. Holding a six stroke lead going into the final round, Jim Furyk who was paired with Sergio in the final round and ended up T-2 with Sergio, had this to say about Sergio:

“He’s lapping the field right now,” Furyk said. “The golf tournament is in his hands; he’s going to determine who the winner is. He goes out and shoots 70, you can hand him the trophy.”

Nevermind the 70, a 71 could have won but Sergio shot a 72 and eventually lost in a playoff to Vijay to finish T-2 with Jim Furyk.

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Volume Fifty-Seven

Useful gadgets that may or may no be very useful after all dominate this week’s edition of Hittin’ the Links.

Hittin' The LinksThis week’s edition of Hittin’ The Links is centered on gadgets. Regardless of whether these tools help you maintain your clubs, enjoy your round more, or help you swing better, they’re guaranteed to be useful for at least something…

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Zurich Classic of New Orleans Preview

Hurricane Katrina did it’s damage last year and now it’s time to see which player will stir his own storm to get a win at the 2006 Zurich Classic.

Zurich Classic of New OrleansLast year was the first year the Zurich Classic was held at the TPC Louisiana. Not long after Tim Petrovic won in an exciting playoff over James Driscoll did Hurricane Katrina come through the Gulf Coast region to cause extensive damage to the TPC. The PGA Tour has been in New Orleans since 1938 and is committed to New Orleans and the tournament so they weren’t about to let Katrina stop a tournament, so this year the Zurich Classic will be returning to the English Turn Golf and Country Club once again. Since the event was held there from 1989 to 2004 it will almost feel like a welcome home to the staff of English Turn and to many of the PGA Tour players.

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Volume Fifty-Six

Oh, the American Classics.

Hittin' The LinksWe Americans are lucky to have such a rich golf tradition in our country. While even our oldest establishments are mere toddlers when compared to the eldest European tracks, they have a tremendous amount of history and sentimentality attached to them. From Bobby Jones to Nelson and Hogan, Nicklaus and now Tiger, all the greats have left their mark on our tradition through their stirring victories and heart-breaking defeats on these famous courses.

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Naples Grande Resort and Club

Naples Grande Resort & Club kicks off the Blackstone Group’s new company look.

Naples GrandeNaples Grande Resort & Club has undergone an ownership change, a name change, and an attitude change. There’s a new look, a new name, and a new attitude for one of this city’s legendary destination resorts. Under the fresh ownership of the Blackstone Group, the Registry Resort is now the Naples Grande Resort & Club – the new name reflecting a new era for this grande dame on Naples’ trendy north side.

Did we say era? Frank Cavella, area vice president for Naples Grande Resort & Club, puts it this way: “A new name, new look and new aura.” The latter, not coincidentally, is the name of the resort’s recently-opened signature restaurant just off the refurbished lobby.

“The Registry helped define Naples 20 years ago,” Cavella said. “We’re just trying to bring it back now with a new look and feel.”

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Adams a2 OS Hybrid Review

Hybrids are making a splash on not only the Champions and PGA Tours, but on local golf courses as well. Should a forward-thinking golfer consider the Adams a2 OS?

Adams a2 OS IronsHybrids were once known as golf clubs for the elderly. My how times have changed. Not only do Champions Tour golfers swear by them but now even the PGA Tour pros are choosing these easier-to-hit clubs in exchange for their longer iron counterparts.

Tom Watson is the most famous face associated with the Adams a2 OS hybrids. Every time I watch a Champions Tour event on The Golf Channel there he is with his graceful swing along with the statement claiming that these are the easiest to hit hybrids in golf. I had already taken my long irons out of my bag and stashed them in my “holding bag” in the basement. These clubs were heading for the trade-in bin at the local golf store but they needed replacements. An Idea? How about giving the Adams a2 OS a try?

It was almost twenty years ago that Barney Adams created the Tight Lies fairway wood. If you look around, many golfers still have these woods in their bags today. The phenomenon of the original lower center of gravity “upside-down” design changed the way clubs were created. Could it be that as recently as 2002 Adams’ earnings and stock prices were declining with naysayers claiming the hybrid as a “fad”?”

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Shell Houston Open Preview

We’re all looking to see if Vijay can win for a fourth time and third in a row at this weeks Shell Houston Open.

Shell Houston OpenVijay Singh goes into this year’s Shell Houston Open with history on his mind. Not only has Singh won the past two Shell Houston Opens, but should he win this year, he’ll accomplish something only Tiger Woods (The Memorial, Bay Hill), Tom Watson (Byron Nelson Invitational), and Stuart Appleby (Mercedes Championship) have accomplished: back-to-back-to-back wins in the same same tournament.

Last year we saw Vijah Singh defeat John Daly in a playoff with a par.

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