The revamped TPC at Southwind is normally one of the tougher courses on tour but that did not seem to be the case for the morning tee times of the FedEx St. Jude Classic. With unusually clear skies and extremely calm winds, Justin Leonard entered the clubhouse early with a five-stroke lead. As the weather conditions changed in the afternoon, so did the scores. The wind started to pick up, averaging around 12 miles per hour, but that wasn’t enough to stop Kirk Triplett (64) and Davis Love III (65).
TPC at Southwind has received a facelift since last year’s St. Jude Classic. The course was lengthened 141 yards, a total of 7,244 yards. The par-4 5th hole now plays as a 485-yard par 5 and every green has successfully made the transition from bentgrass to Bermuda grass.
Continue reading “Bogey-Free Leonard Leads, Triplett and Love III Lurk”
Graham Marsh looked impressive in his first round at Laurel Valley Golf Club in Ligonier, Pennsylvania as he shot a 4-under 68. Marsh was able to take advantage of the warmer temperatures and clear skies on Thursday to take the first round lead at the 
The winds didn’t seem to have much of an effect on 32-year old swede Sophie Gustafson. Sophie turned in a 66 today with a spectacular round of eight birdies and only two bogeys on 9 and 11. She made back-to-back birdies on the 5th and 6th holes, again at the 12th and 13th holes and a triple threat with birdies on 15, 16 and 17. Gustafson putted only 24 times today and drove the ball over 300 yards. She is third in driving average on the LPGA tour this season. “You’ve got to be aggressive here,” said Gustafson.
As we all know, 
It’s always been a mystery to me how a company can determine that they can get the value out of a $3 million sponsorship deal of a golf tournament (just making numbers up). I mean, I’m positive they don’t get a percentage of revenue. In fact, they’re pretty much covering prize money.
Paula Creamer pulled her driver out from under her 
It would be great if all golfers could play as happily as Christina Kim has done for the past three rounds of the Sybase Classic. Kim led in round one. She then tied for second place in second round action remaining just one stroke off of Creamer’s lead. With eleven straight pars two birdies and a solo bogey Kim finished her round with a 1-under 70, a score good enough to topple second round leader Paula Creamer by one stroke. Gloria Park and Joo Mi Kim are challenging with Creamer, but it’s Kim who has been looking the most comfortable this week making pars even when she’s in trouble. If Kim can hang on and win the final round tomorrow she will grab her second trophy on the LPGA tour. When asked what score she had in mind for her final round Kim laughed, “Fifty-four. I’m pretty sure I’d walk off with that.”