Author: Guest Author

Toms Taken to Hospital

David Toms was taken to the hospital and listed in critical condition after his heart rate rose dramatically while playing in the 84 Lumber Classic.

David TomsFor the second time this week another professional golfer has been admitted to the hospital with a rapid rising heart rate. Meg Mallon had just enjoyed the closing ceremonies of the Solheim Cup in Carmel, Indiana when her rate climbed upwards to 290 beats per minute. To put that into perspective, cyclist Lance Armstrong during crucial stages of the Tour de France will rarely exceed 220 bpm. Yesterday after making the turn at the 84 Lumber Classic, PGA TOUR veteran David Toms was seen clutching his chest and taking a knee due to his escalated heart rate then being rushed to a hospital via helicopter where he is now in stable condition.

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John Q. Hammon Hotel Classic Preview

Annika Sorenstam headlines at the 2005 John Q. Hammons Hotel Classic. The American “triple-threat” will be there to try and stop her from defending her trophy.

Hammons ImageAlthough Annika Sorenstam will be defending her title this week at the John Q. Hammons Hotel Classic all eyes will be gravitating to the young Americans who triumphed at this year’s Solheim Cup. Annika may be the tournament favorite but triple-threats Creamer, Gulbis and Kim will probably steal the show.

Nine of the top-ten money earners will compete among the 144 tour professionals slated for the final field. The $1 million purse is smaller than at other championships but the Cystic Fibrosis Jr. Achievement Charity is a good cause. Also whenever Sorenstam is in the field you’ll most likely see the best of the best challenging in an attempt to topple her from her number-one perch.

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Volume Twenty-Six

Get your week started off right by checking out these links.

Hittin' the LinksI totally forgot about golf this weekend, and that’s the first time that’s happened since I can remember. Well I guess I didn’t totally forget about it, I did catch an unpleasant sight of Laura Davies’ rear as I was channel surfing. But most of the weekend, I was wrapped up in college football (did anyone see my alma-mater Ohio University beat Pittsburgh in OT?) and the U.S. Open finals (tennis). I think Roger Federer is the greatest tennis player ever.

Anyway, enough about my weekend. Let’s look at some links.

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Team USA Reclaims Solheim Cup

The United States wins the Solheim Cup after beginning the day all square with Team Europe.

paula_creamer_solheim.jpgHaving the delicious distinction of never losing the Solheim Cup on their own soil, Team USA did not disappoint today, claiming victory over the Europeans 15.5 to 12.5. This ninth rendition of the Solheim Cup had all the drama of a major PGA Tour event.

Starting the day even at eight points apiece following a tremendous comeback in the Saturday afternoon fourball matches, the United States team had the confidence necessary to take on their competitors in singles match-play action earlier this morning. Triple-threat rookies Paula Creamer, Natalie Gulbis, and Christina Kim stole the show with American flags painted on their faces and ankles and confidence in their abilities. Walking the course pumping up the crowd, the girls’ themselves chanted “USA, USA” making it virtually impossible for the European team to stay focused on their shots and making the gallery into a cheering squad for the Americans.

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Solheim Cup Showdown

The Americans face-off against the rest of the world for the biennial rights to the Solheim Cup.

solheim_cup_logo.jpgFor 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.

At the 2003 event held at Barseback Golf & Country Club in Sweden 100,000 cheering fans witnessed the European team (17.5 points) make mincemeat out of the Americans (10.5).

With an all-star American team led by Nancy Lopez and Annika Sorenstam playing on the side of the LET, all I can say is … “Let’s get ready to rumble!”

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Volume Twenty-Five

Even on a holiday weekend, we’re delivering the links to you. Enjoy.

Hittin' the LinksHappy 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.

Let’s get right to the links.

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Woods and Others Withdraw from Rich World Match Play

Big names withdraw from $1.78 million World Match Play Championship making the tournament a snoozer.

Tiger and PhilIt has been confirmed on the HSBC World Match Play Championship web site that the top three ranked players in the world – Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh, and Phil Mickelson – will not be in the field. The tournament, which boasts a $1.78 million purse to the winner, will be played on September 15-18 at the West Course at Wentworth in England. The highest prize in golf was not even enough for Ernie Els to jump out of bed and forget about recovering from a recent knee surgery.

One would think that the tournament could not get any worse without Woods, Singh, Mickelson, and Els absent, but it does. With the exception of Chris DiMarco and Fred Couples, Sergio Garcia and Davis Love III have decided to stay home and watch Geraldo Rivera wade around New Orleans on FOX News. Vijay Singh will be defending his title against Mickelson, Couples and DiMarco at the 84 Lumber Classic in western Pennsylvania. There is not one American player in the field.

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State Farm Classic a Solheim Cup Tune-Up

The LPGA rolls into Illinois for the State Farm Classic. Both Solheim Cup Team captains will be in attendance for a ceremonial “send-off” event.

LPGAFor the past thirty years the Labor Day weekend has been a special time for the LPGA Tour. In 1976 the first Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Classic was held at the Rail Golf Club, yearly site of the State Farm Classic. This golf course was newly completed and without clubhouse, trees, or even a parking lot. But Patty Berg and the LPGA saw both beauty and challenge in the course and the co-owners were interested in donating to worthwhile charities so the LPGA went ahead and placed it on their tour calendar.

Fast forward to 1993 when Nancy Lopez was the defending champion of the newly renamed State Farm Classic. The addition of television cameras and notable increases of the purse to $500,000 made the Classic one of the hottest venues on the tour.

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Volume Twenty-Four

Take a few minutes to browse this week’s links. As always, there’s nine of them waiting for you.

Hittin' the LinksI’ve never played so much golf in my life. In three days, I played a total of 104 holes of golf. We played 45 on Thursday and Friday and 14 on Saturday (we were rained out the last four holes). My hands are sore, I think I strained my sternum, and my right butt cheek hurts from bending over to pick up my ball out of the cup and tee up my driver. But to be honest, I would do it all over again tomorrow. Man, I love this game.

Now, it’s time for the links.

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