Category: PGA

There will be no repeat of a Phil vs. Tiger final round of the 33rd Honda Classic. However, this tournament still boasts an excellent field with some recognizable names: Vijay Singh, Davis Love III, Fred Couples, and David Toms just to name a few.

Last year it was breakthrough winner Todd Hamilton who fought off Davis Love III to win the event. Hamilton managed to birdie the final two holes to clinch his first Tour victory. Unfortunately, the scene has become too familiar for Davis Love III, who has finished 2nd at the Honda Classic the last two years, and cites that as a major reason for competing this year. Only three golfers have won this tournament multiple times: Jack Nicklaus, Johnny Miller, and Mark Calcavecchia. However, there are nine previous winners in the field this year ready to join the other greats as two-time winners.

Continue reading “Honda Classic Preview”

WOW!

Tiger Woods made a statement Sunday, outdueling Phil Mickelson and slaying the Blue Monster in the process. Tiger Woods has won the 2005 Ford Championship at Doral and, in doing so, re-claimed his spot on top of the World Golf Rankings.

Woods, who began the day two shots back of Mickelson, first took the lead when he eagled the 603-yard par-5 12th after knocking a 3-wood 295 yards to the back of the green. We’d later learn that he hit it a bit thin. Sheesh!

Continue reading “Monster Mash: Tiger Topples Mickelson, Doral”

“Phil Mickelson vs. The Blue Monster” ended in a TKO, with Phil Mickelson firing 64, 66, 66. But Sunday’s matchup is even better.

Tiger Woods fired a blistering 63, with a back-nine 30, and put the pressure on Mickelson, who managed to retain a two-stroke advantage going into the final round at the Ford Championship at Doral. Mickelson is at -20, Tiger’s at -18, and nobody else is closer than -14.

Miami ain’t exactly the Ol’ West, but there’s a showdown scheduled for 1:45pm EST today, and it’s World #2 vs. World #4. Tiger is spotting Mickelson – who has lead or shared the lead in each of his last ten stroke-play rounds – one stroke a side. Who will win?

Continue reading “Doral Showdown: Woods v. Mickelson”

Phil Mickelson is playing like the world’s number one golfer of late and proved it again today. He fired a 6-under 66 to claim exclusive rights to first place and sits at -14. His six birdies put him two strokes ahead of Billy Andrade. Phil – not the course – is the true monster this week.

On a course that historically has been one of the PGA’s most dramatic, we are seeing some low scores. Just to give you an idea of what these guys are up against, the Blue Monster is a par 72 7,255-yard course. There are 117 sand bunkers and water comes into play on 12 of its 18 holes. The 18th hole was the most difficult hole on the PGA Tour last year. It is a course that attracts the world’s best golfers and has provided some memorable moments since the tournament’s inception in 1962.

Continue reading “Mickelson: the Real Monster at Doral”

When the dust settled after the first round at Doral four players were tied for the lead at 64: José Maria Olazabal, Phil Mickelson, Brian Davis, and Marco Dawson. Tiger Woods was tied for fifth, one shot back with Harrison Frazar at 65.

The big guns showed up to play, and play they did. Eleven of the top twelve players in the world are at Doral. The missing man is Ernie Els, and he was busy racing into the lead at the Dubai Desert Classic half a world away.

Continue reading “Big Guns Mix It Up In Round One At Doral”

Now that the West Coast Swing has finished up, the PGA Tour turns its attention to the Sunshine State. The first tournament in Florida: The Ford Championships held at the famous Blue Monster Course at Doral Resort. The big news for the 2005 tournament is big names. This year boasts one of the strongest fields in the event’s history. Tiger Woods passed on big time appearance money from the Dubai Desert Classic to tee it up at Doral. However, winning will not be easy. Woods will be competing in a field with names like Phil Mickelson, Retief Goosen, and Vijay Singh. A total of 11 of the top 12 players in the world will compete at Doral including David Toms, fresh off his domination at the Match Play Championships.

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“Ben,” a long-time member of our golf forum, recently volunteered at the wet and wild Nissan Open. Fortunately for Ben, he volunteered on Thursday. Here is one man’s experience.

Volunteers are supposed to be at the course by 6:00 am. I live 15 minutes from the course, so I’m there in plenty of time. I’m to be a standard bearer – the FootJoy sign boy without the annoying attitude or multi-million-dollar advertising contract. The standard bearers meet at the driving range and line up to get our groupings. As we are doing so, players start coming to the range. I saw Hank Kuehne and Colin Montgomerie. I eventually make my way to the font of the line and get the 8:30 time off the 10th tee. My group will include Charles Howell III, Frederik Jacobson, and Bo Van Pelt.

Continue reading “A Day in the Life of a PGA Tour Volunteer”