Category: Hittin’ the Links

Here’s a good question to throw out for your next 19th hole discussion: What week of the golf season features the best group of venues? I think it would be tough to beat this past weekend.

First of all, the Champions Tour players and selected juniors from across the U.S. played the Nature Valley First Tee Open at Pebble Beach Golf Links. Not bad for openers, but the week also included the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, which was contested on the Old Course at St. Andrews as well as Kingsbarns and Carnoustie. Not a bad trio at all. And just to sweeten the pot a little more, the Web.com Tour Championship wrapped up the finals series on Dye’s Valley Course, you know, the other course at TPC Sawgrass.

Speaking of the Web.com Tour, you could say that the Web.com Tour Championship put the seal on the 2013 PGA TOUR season by determining the final card holders for 2014. This week, HtL looks at the Web.com finale, the Presidents Cup, and more.

Continue reading “Volume Three Hundred Fifty-Nine”

The calendar says that it is now officially fall; and though the weather is beginning to cool down, the golf is as hot as ever.

Though the 2013 PGA TOUR concluded this past weekend, the 2013-14 season is just a few weeks away. The Web.com Tour Championship this coming weekend will help determine who will be fulltime participants on the PGA TOUR next year and who will be seeking their 2014-15 cards on the Web.com Tour. The LPGA is on sabbatical, but will return Oct. 3 at the Reignwood LPGA Classic in Beijing. And a little thing called the Presidents Cup also tees off Oct. 3.

It’s just a great time of the year for a little golf. Let’s get started.

Continue reading “Volume Three Hundred Fifty-Eight”

It was a big weekend in golf: an LPGA major and the third legs of the playoffs on both the PGA Tour and the Web.com Tour.

Weather played a major role at both the BMW Championship in Chicago and at the Evian Championship in Evian, France. The LPGA’s fifth major was shortened to 54 holes, the last 18 of which were played under lift, clean, and place rules. Rain pushed the final round to Monday at the BMW Championship, where Tiger’s final round woes of 2013 continued as he shot even par 71 and finished T11. Meanwhile, another past Masters winner raced up the leaderboard and toward a possible date with destiny in Atlanta.

In this edition of HtL, we have some saucy fare from France, a deep dish or two from Chicago, and some home cooking (for me) from Columbus.

Continue reading “Volume Three Hundred Fifty-Seven”

Just like the NFL, Hittin’ the Links is back! Even though the PGA Tour and LPGA took the week off, there was still plenty of action on and off the links.

If you haven’t been paying attention to the inaugural Web.com Tour Finals, maybe you should take a look. While it lacks the star power of the FedExCup Playoffs, you will recognize a lot of names (Trevor Immelman, Ricky Barnes, Will MacKenzie, Ryo Ishikawa, Vaughn Taylor, et al.), and the drama doesn’t end when the tournament leader has a three-stroke lead on the 18th tee. While the top 25 money winners from the Web.com Tour’s regular season have already earned PGA Tour cards for 2014, the four week Finals will determine who gets the remaining 25 cards and the final pecking order of those cards. Next week, the Web.com Tour Finals visit my town — Columbus, OH — for the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship at The Ohio State University Scarlet Course, before wrapping up the playoffs and season Sept. 26-29 at Dye’s Valley Course in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, for the Web.com Tour Championship.

In this edition of HtL, we ask the following: Who is the best PGA Tour player with only one win? Is Tim Tebow’s swing speed really 141 mph? And why you should probably consider Newton’s Third Law of Motion when deciding whether to cut a shot around that tree or just chip back into the fairway.

Continue reading “Volume Three Hundred Fifty-Six”

Hello golf fans and welcome to yet another Hittin’ the Links. Its time for the final Major Championship of the year. Will Tiger continue his great play from Firestone? Will Phil the thrill make another surprise run? Or will there be another storyline unfolding at Oak Hill? I love to watch Major Championship golf, it will be exciting no matter who is in the lead come Sunday.

In this edition of HtL we begin with a look at Rory’s emotions, then check out Tiger being a dad, and investigate what Tiger did to Mark O’Meara. Also, we peruse the captain’s picks for the Solheim Cup, find out who really loves burritos, and do a wrap-up of the week’s events. Read on.

Continue reading “Volume Three Hundred Fifty Five”

Hello golf fans and welcome to another Hittin’ the Links. I don’t know if I have ever enjoyed watching a golf tournament more than Sunday’s final round at The Open Championship. Lead changes galore, and nobody really looked like they really wanted to win until Phil decided to kick it into gear and run away with it. Congratulations, goes out to Lefty for getting the third part of his career grand slam. We will have to wait until next year to see if he can get his hands on that elusive U.S. Open Trophy.

In this newest HtL we begin with a look at this week’s celebrity event, then check out the car Lexi got with her hole in one, and find out what was going on with Rory McIlroy. Also, we find out who got a slow play penalty this time, investigate a senior citizen golf fight, and do a wrap-up of the week’s events. Read on!

Continue reading “Volume Three Hundred Fifty Four”

Tiger Woods must have been hurting a bit this week to miss his own tournament. He was still there as a gracious host to shake hands as they finished up. David Feherty even had a chance to talk to him about his hosting duties. It was still a good tournament, even without its host in the field. Personally, I didn’t miss Tiger at all.

In this edition of HtL we begin be investigating a mid-round caddy firing, then check out a different kind of bird on the course, and look at one hole that meant business at Congressional. Also, we take a peak in some of the big boys’ bags, find out some things about Stacy Lewis, and do a wrap-up of the weeks events. Read on!

Continue reading “Volume Three Hundred Fifty Three”

Well so much for all the hype that Merion was too short and easy for the U.S. Open. The historical little club did just fine standing up to the modern players and equipment. Some might even say that Merion took on the world’s best and kicked all their butts. I thought this years tournament was one of the best I have watched in a great while. Congratulations to Justin Rose for breaking through for his first Major win.

In this post U.S. Open Hittin’ the Links we begin with a look at the chaos behind Phil at the 72nd hole, say goodbye to longtime professional Miller Barber, and check out a really ugly pair of pants. Also, we see what rules violations were called in this week, find out what Rory did to his club, and do a wrap-up of the 113th U.S. Open. Read on!

Continue reading “Volume Three Hundred Fifty Two”

It’s U.S. Open time again. Time to watch the best players in the world trudge around the golf course laboriously trying to make par. This year’s venue promises to be as punitive as any. Merion awaits the best in the world, so it can abuse them for our amusement. What’s not to love about that?

In this newest edition of HtL we begin with a peek at the group to watch, then check out a golf rap video, and find out why some people think it’s okay to be selective about which golf rules we follow. Also, we find out what an average amateur would shoot at Merion, look into why Butch Harmon gave up Twitter, and do a wrap-up of the weeks events. Read on!

Continue reading “Volume Three Hundred Fifty One”